Sofia Falkenhem’s illustrations are familiar to us—she has spent many years brilliantly bringing other people’s stories to life. But now she makes her debut with a picture book entirely her own. And it is dramatic, in a truly delightful way. Two children live on a barren island in the sea with their parents, who are lighthouse keepers. After a stormy night, they explore the shore—and find something they have never encountered before—a dragon! How is it? Is it… dangerous? Here, sharp contrasts and white flashes of lightning split the black stormy sky. It is thrilling and full of suspense.

There is both tension and allure in the colours: the orange sky, the cobalt-blue sea, and the ivory-black tones of both the clouds and the island, as if they were being drawn toward one another. There is an affection here for the dangerous, the uncertain, the turbulent. Both the colouring and the composition bring to mind Tove Jansson’s Who Will Comfort Toffle?, where the dangerous and the unfamiliar are likewise embraced — though the comparison ends there.

With spare text and evocative imagery, Sofia Falkenhem succeeds in making words and pictures work together to captivate the reader in a vivid and thrilling picture book. The security offered by the parents stands in warm contrast to the vast, sometimes difficult world that the children nevertheless wish — and are allowed — to navigate. The author has said she is influenced by Tove Jansson, which is evident both in the choice of theme and in the artistic expression. I also sense affinities with Ingrid Vang Nyman’s illustrations and with storytellers such as Astrid Lindgren and Frida Nilsson. Brave and capable children, a challenging world, and reassuring adults. A truly beautiful tale in a strong tradition. 5/5