By Emma AdBåge
Translated from the Swedish by Alisha Niehaus Berger
U.S. edition: Arctis, 2026
24 pages
978-1-64690-054-1
Ages 5-10
Two siblings (white) return home from a weekend away with Grandpa. Their parents are happy and relaxed, which immediately unsettles the children. Mom and Dad are pleased that the clutter has been tidied and that there is a fresh smell in the home. But the siblings are suspicious. And then they see it: a big black plastic bag in the corner. They immediately haul it upstairs, much to the dismay of their parents. Trash? Absolutely not. The bag is full of treasures for these kids: a mini pen (Who cares if it doesn’t work? It’s a mini pen!), swim goggles with no lenses, a belt with jingle bells that’s too small (but can be used for other things), the candy wrapper collection, and a favorite eraser. Initially, the siblings are shocked by what their parents thought was rubbish, then grateful that they recovered precious long-lost items. The siblings recount the purpose and provenance of the trash bag’s entire inventory while their parents watch, helplessly defensive and defeated. Then the children discover the ultimate sin. Woody. HOW COULD THEY? “We are stunned. Woody is a piece of firewood that looks a lot like a real baby. Woody was our cousin all summer. Our baby cousin. Who we loved!” This comical and entertaining translated picture book works equally well for children and adult readers. The illustrations show familial intimacy, humor, and physical details of their homelife. The final page turn is a chef’s kiss of a conclusion. (Ages 5-10)