Sven Nordqvist is not just about the stories of Findus and Pettson. We highly recommend getting your hands on the book "Where Is My Sister?" — a story in verse by Nordqvist, naturally accompanied by his own illustrations. The author conceived this book as a picture book where the text is secondary. The illustrations here truly play a massive role: they are so atmospheric, witty, and detailed that you probably won't get tired of looking at them even after years! But the verses are wonderful too—they give you goosebumps. Just be sure to read them through a couple of times yourself before reading them to your child, as the rhythm isn't the simplest; you need to catch it, but once you do, you won't be able to put it down...
A shy little rat has lost his sister, and she, in contrast, is no goody-two-shoes but a daredevil. She adores adventure, runs all over the countryside, understands the language of birds, invents all sorts of things, and always dreams of more. Her brother follows in her footsteps, though he cannot always grasp her whims. The little rat turns to his grandfather for help with the search, but the grandfather is an old man with his feet firmly on the ground, to whom any kind of folly is quite foreign. And while the little rat admires his sister during the search, the old man gently brings the little one back down to earth, uttering simple worldly wisdoms.
How is it better to live: by diving headlong into the unknown, or by learning everything little by little? By sitting calmly at home, or by taking risks in pursuit of new sensations? In this short poem, the reader will be introduced to different approaches to life and see that both have a right to exist.
As for the pictures—as always with Nordqvist, they do not copy the text but significantly expand its boundaries: on each page, there are multitudes of worlds, dozens of characters, separate storylines, riddles, charming humor, and masterful execution.
"Where Is My Sister?" is a large, beautiful book (perfect as a gift) for preschoolers and for those who have already figured out life.
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