Vi måste ha ketchup! review

Previously, Pija Lindenbaum always illustrated her own books. Lindenbaum is a fantastic, unique voice in Swedish children's literature. Her pictures are strong and instantly recognizable – the facial expressions, the nature that curves and envelops you, the details that are always spot-on, even when completely surreal. The most striking feature of her books is her characteristic, slightly slanted perspective, an unusual way of composing the scenes which makes everything look a bit loopy and off, as if tipping to the side – which does fit so perfectly with her fantastic, tumbling, unusual way with words. 

Now it seems she has found the perfect partner in illustrator and paper artist Anna Åkerström (check out her online portfolio, her drawings are a joy and the paper figures nothing short of a wonder). Åkerström’s medium is different – here we have photographs of Åkerström’s paper figures (captured magnificently by August Eriksson) – but the mood remains unmistakably Lindenbaum-ish. This time we are at a camping site. As the author explains: ‘A camping site is a society in miniature. It is a place where many different kinds of people meet, which makes it an exciting setting for a story.’ Hot dogs are ready but there is no ketchup, so a gang of children decide to go around trying to find some. What they encounter are all kinds of people, not all of them nice. Readers of all sizes and ages will recognize them: those who have a lot but refuse to share, those who inform you that you should only eat healthy food like they do, and those who want to help but get everything wrong (with an extra wink to adults who recognize a German by his Einstürzende Neubauten t-shirt even before he offers the children curry ketchup).

The story is both wonderful and playful, and as always, genuinely from a child´s perspective, like in all of Lindenbaum’s stories. 

It is charming, enchanting and truthful in its individual outlook on things. As Lindenbaum´s books always remind us: when we are small, every adventure is big, all the questions are important, all our wishes should be taken seriously. And that unexpected solutions will present themselves, if only we are open-minded enough.