04/23/2018
Swedish author-illustrator Adbåge’s cinematic ability to capture a household with its own idiosyncratic habits has the flavor of understated memoir. A girl in a striped pullover, with an impish grin, and her sister, Iben, prepare for a grand expedition. They set up a tent in the garden and pack flashlights, a toy knife, and quilts. They just need snacks, but Dad says there’s nothing but pickles. In one of Adbåge’s sly pencil-and-wash drawings, the pair tears the kitchen apart in search of other treats; the narrator holds a leaking box of rice, while Iben tosses utensils out from under the sink. They last in the tent as long as the pickles and songs hold out but then their resolve collapses: “We are sooo bored!... It’s no good anymore.” They move inside, and the narrator watches “a movie about crocodiles with fast music” with Dad, who reveals a secret stash of cheese puffs. The humor lies in the ironic mismatch between the girls’ lofty aspirations and the way things actually work out (“I think I need to poop”). While Adbåge’s affectionate family portrait feels particular to this quirky group, it relays a familiar truth of childhood: sometimes planning a novel activity is more fun than the activity itself. Ages 4–8. (June)
"There are those (like me) who feel that 'camping out' in the backyard is a high point of childhood adventure, and this adorable book from Sweden confirms it. Two small siblings inform their dad of their plans, and after gathering their supplies they pitch a tent and hunker down. No, they don't make it through the whole night out there, but does that even matter? With winsome mixed-media illustrations that capture all the most telling details, and a fine-tuned ear for the way kids think and talk, Adbage understands the fun that can be found in a child's everyday reality." —Maria Russo, The New York Times
"There is something entirely lovely about this quiet book. Any child who has camped in the backyard will see themselves here. From the little drama of the ant in the book to the pickles to the need to suddenly return home, each element is so clear, so child centered, so realistic. The strong relationship the children have with their father is another highlight of the book. The illustrations have a supporting quiet simplicity to them and yet the busyness and clutter that also accompanies childhood." —Tasha Saecker, Waking Brain Cells
"This ode to exploration encourages youngsters to think big; sometimes the most fun is in the preparation."—Kirkus Reviews
"A Swedish import that’s ideal to be shared in a seasonal family storytime or as summer bedtime fare."—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY, School Library Journal
"a funny, delightful book with unforgettable drawings, especially the expressive looks in the boys' eyes." —The Vermont Country Sampler
”In The Grand Expedition the most quintessential elements of childhood are pedagogically represented with flourishing imagination, natural world exploration and the quiet presence of a nonjudgmental parent watching over yet never interfering. In an over scheduled and over media drenched world, this book reminds us of the heart of genuine childhood.” —Jesica Sweedler DeHart, The Wandering Bookseller
04/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Despite Dad's dearth of snacks (I mean, pickles?), a nameless big sibling and smaller Iben pack up and head out on a camping expedition in the backyard. A perfect campsite is located, tent is pitched, pickles are nibbled, songs are sung by flashlight, and all is gas and gaiters until Iben's sleeping bag turns uncomfy, one of the kids needs "to poop," and a hungry mosquito invades the tent. All ends quietly and happily with Iben in bed, one sibling cozily cuddled on the couch with Dad, and new expeditions on the horizon. Simple, color-washed illustrations accompany the equally simple, direct text, providing a perfectly warm record of a great (if brief) adventure. VERDICT A Swedish import that's ideal to be shared in a seasonal family storytime or as summer bedtime fare.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
2018-02-13
Two young siblings go on an adventure in their own backyard.In this Swedish import, two tiny tots decide one day to embark on a grand expedition. The children are never specifically gendered, with only one called by name—Iben (the other narrates). They gather the essentials: a tent, a flashlight, a cozy blanket, and a jump-rope (just in case they need a lasso, of course). They search the kitchen for treats but find none. Dad helpfully offers a jar of pickles, receiving frowns in response. They drag their supplies to a rock in the backyard and set up camp. Everything is great until they run out of pickles, mosquitoes start buzzing, Iben can't get comfortable on the hard ground, and the narrator needs to "poop." They shuffle back inside, confident in their decision. Dad (no other parent is mentioned throughout) doesn't ask questions but instead snuggles up on the couch and breaks out the cheese puffs. Adbåge's quirky line illustrations, with muted watercolor washes, set the tone for a grand—yet quite ordinary—adventure that many readers will find familiar. The children are drawn with pale skin and white, moplike pageboys.This ode to exploration encourages youngsters to think big; sometimes the most fun is in the preparation. (Picture book. 3-7)
