Sometimes is it the most modest books which can contain the most lovely things, be that the story or the illustrations. This is a hardback edition by Methuen of a novel for children by Harry Kullman, translated from the Swedish and published in the UK in 1961. It has some of the most successful and charming illustrations from the period I have seen for a long time by Claes Bäckström. The observation of character and 'attitude' is exquisitely well done. I think the most successful illustration here is the image of the boy kneeling on the quayside engrossed in his game, there is something about it which brings back an almost physical memory of having been thus engaged in something as a child.
