THE GRAND EXPEDITION

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.