Sad/Ledsen

Ah, feelings! We all know – young and old – how a relatively small incident can end up becoming quite a big drama. 

Lotta Olsson and Emma AdBåge are a true dream team. Their new collaboration sees them creating two picture books about feelings. Sad will be released in 2020 and Happy is due to be published in 2021. 

Sad is set in a nursery school. One child discovers that another child has taken her beloved cuddly toy. And then the drama unfolds. The rhythm of the text, words and illustrations cleverly depict body language, expressions and movements in a clear and subtle way. And when everything ends well, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. 

With masterly precision, and no superfluous words or pen strokes, Lotta Olsson and Emma AdBåge convey the young girl’s growing despair, and the interaction between the children and the grown-ups. 

Sad is a picture book to be enjoyed over and over again, no doubt sparking some interesting conversations. This already feels like a classic!