The World Outside

Henrik Wallnäs & Matilda Ruta

The yard has four corners.
I’ve counted them myself.
Here is me and Pim in the first corner.

At daycare, there are hooks with everyone’s names on, laps to sit on, and a rope to hold on to when we go for walks. In the best corner of the yard, there are dirt and bugs – the smells there tickle your nose. The corner by the gate is the most dangerous one, because there is a way that leads out from there. If you stand on your toes and reach up high, you can see the world outside. It feels exciting to run away, but warm in your belly when you are found again.

A recognizable portrayal of everyday life at a pre-school. Henrik Wallnäs and Matilda Ruta’s first picture book together, Åka buss/The Bus Ride, was an August Prize nominee in 2016.