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Lena is five and longs to go to school. Her brother Peter is seven and goes to school. She plays school in the bedroom they share. His books for reading and maths catch her eye. So do his notebooks and pencils. She wants to know what teachers do and what pupils learn. One day, Peter takes her along to find out.

Lena meets a kind teacher. She sees pupils read and do sums. These tasks seem less hard than she had thought. They eat pancakes for lunch, not fish as on other days. At break, she joins Peter and his classmates outside. They play in a schoolyard full of autumn leaves.

Astrid Lindgren wrote this picture book for children curious about school. It follows a younger sister who explores her brother’s world. Ilon Wikland supplies the colour art. Andreea Caleman translates it from Swedish.

Lindgren grew up on her parents’ farm. She had a brother and two sisters. A warm family life helped shape her stories. So did games and the adventures she had as a child. She grew up with books. All her life, she urged children to read. Readers know her work in many languages. Her work has also led to screen versions.

Wikland’s birthplace is Estonia. She reached Sweden as a refugee in 1944. She met Lindgren in 1953, while working at Rabén & Sjögren. They worked together for many years. Wikland drew art for more of Lindgren’s books than any other artist.