New Swedish Books, autumn 2020 1
New Swedish Books 12 NATURE Hanna Jedvik’s choice
In Nature Emma Adbåge depicts our complex relationship with nature, in a story marked by her characteristic wit and thoughtfulness. From what is clearly defined as a child’s perspective she asks questions about our contradictory attitudes to nature. And she does this without central characters or even a proper plot. Instead it is a village and its surroundings that are at the centre. The villagers very much enjoy being in nature, but only when it’s pretty and behaves the way they want it to. Not when the linden tree’s leaves turn into brown goo on the ground, when too much snow falls, or when weeds take over the lawns. Instead the villagers want to tame nature. So they surface it with asphalt and build pools. In her distinctive, slightly wonky images and kooky language, Emma Adbåge succeeds in describing climate crises and environmental destruction without becoming didactical. It is a down-to-earth and warm story of one of our time’s most pressing issues. Emma Adbåge Selected works Vi hittar Smulbert 2009 Dumma teckning! 2017 Gropen 2018 Selected awards Elsa Beskow-plaketten 2013 Augustpriset 2018 BMF-plaketten 2018 Picturebook, 3–6 years, 40 p. Emma Adbåge Publisher Rabén & Sjögren Rights Rabén & Sjögren Agency Åsa Bergman asa.bergman@rabensjogren.se Photo: Richard Gustafsson