New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
New Swedish Books 50 Meanwhile in my Imaginary Wo
rld When Lisa Bjärbo and Emma Adbåge create their first picture book together we’re in for a sensitive depiction of everyday life. Meanwhile in my Imaginary World describes the melancholic day-to-day life of a mum, as she dreams herself away from her ‘kitchen sink’ setting filled with mess and mayhem. Her everyday is interspersed by daydreams of being a superhero-mum, who has the strength to fill up yet another glass of milk, who can afford to travel, and who has the energy to go to the swimming pool. At the same time as the mum gathers her strength, the two children roam heedlessly on. Adbåge’s sensitive imagery captures the nuances with such precision that it’s as if you could smell what they smell, and that the mess, which triggers the dreams, becomes real. And it is both liberating and enriching that it’s the mum who’s given the main role in this very human and touching story. Lisa Bjärbo (text) b. 1980 Emma Adbåge (ill) b. 1982 Meanwhile in my Imaginary World Publisher Rabén & Sjögren www.rabensjogren.se Rights Rabén & Sjögren Agency asa.bergman@rabensjogren.se lillevi.cederin@rabensjogren.se Lisa Bjärbo Selected Works Djupa ro Chapter Book 2015 Allt jag säger är sant YA 2012 Det är så logiskt, alla fattar utom du YA 2010 Literary Prizes Carl von Linné-plaketten 2007 Nils Holgersson-plaketten 2013 Emma Adbåge Selected Works Jag var superhjälte Picture Book 2008 Leni är ett sockerhjärta Picture Book 2011 Räkna med naturen Picture Book 2013 Literary Prizes Sven Rydénpriset 2011 Elsa Beskow-plaketten 2013 Lennart Hellsingpriset 2017 Photo: Leif Hansen Photo: Richard Gustafsson