A to Zåäö: Playing with History at the American Swedish Institute

By Nate Christopherson and Tara Sweeney

A playful picture-book tour of the Swedish alphabet, in which curious characters explore the American Swedish Institute

A is for "Akta dig Look out " And when you do, you'll see the nyckelharpa, or keyed fiddle, that Axel's father made--which followed Axel from Sweden to America. You'll also find Axel, a snappy dresser, with his umbrella and bowler hat. He's one of the inquisitive characters who will accompany you on these pages, guiding you through the twenty-nine letters of the Swedish alphabet. Each letter does something exciting. C is "Cirkulera Go round and round " And for D, "Dansa Dance "

This fun introduction to the Swedish alphabet, a romp from A to Z (and then to to ), is also a delightful tour of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, a cultural center alive with stories past and present. Artifacts from the museum's collection are charmingly rendered in watercolor and animated by whimsical pen-and-ink characters that draw readers from page to page. Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson, a mother and son collaborative team, create magical realism in A to Z , their first picture book. Their irreverent curiosity delights and begs a timeless question--how can exploration and discovery help us grow?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1517907888
• ISBN13: 9781517907884
• Release Date: December 2019
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 11.3" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7