Anders Jacobsson (born 1963) and Sören Olsson (born 1964) are Swedish cousins who have worked together for decades as authors of children's and young adult literature. Their collaborative career began in the 1980s and has produced long-running book series, recurring characters and material adapted for other media. The pair are known for blending gentle comedy, realistic family life and the everyday anxieties of growing up.

Their writing often uses first-person narration, diary entries and episodic chapters that make it easy to read aloud or to adapt for performance. Stories focus on school, friendships, crushes, family dynamics and the small embarrassments that shape childhood memories. Humor is an important device, but it is usually sympathetic rather than satirical: their protagonists are fallible and likable, and the books mix lighthearted situations with moments of genuine feeling.

Notable works

  • Sune — a series centered on a boy and his family life that emphasizes everyday comedy and practical jokes.
  • Bert — told in diary form, these books follow an adolescent boy navigating puberty, crushes and school life.
  • Tuva-Lisa — a collection aimed at younger readers, featuring an imaginative child protagonist.
  • Emanuel — another recurring character series that explores childhood perspective and humor.
  • Other short stories and titles addressed to both children and young readers, including picture books and early readers.

Adaptations and influence

Books by Jacobsson and Olsson have been adapted for radio, television and cinema in Sweden; the authors themselves have written scripts and consulted on productions. Their characters have become familiar in Swedish popular culture and have helped shape how contemporary childhood and adolescence are portrayed in Scandinavian children's media. Many of the stories have been translated or published outside Sweden, making the characters recognizable to readers in other countries.

The duo's long collaboration is notable: they maintain distinctive but complementary voices and often split tasks such as plotting, drafting and revising. Their collaborative method emphasizes character-driven scenes and clear, accessible language suitable for classroom reading and family sharing. Educators and librarians frequently recommend their books for children transitioning from picture books to longer chapter books.

Although primarily celebrated for Sune and Bert, Jacobsson and Olsson's broader body of work includes one-off titles, series spin-offs and media tie-ins. Their stories continue to be reissued and remain part of discussions about humor, adolescence and everyday life in contemporary children's literature.