When Dad Showed Me the Universe

K-Gr 3—The nature of the nighttime excursion a father has in mind is hinted at in the opening scene: a magazine featuring planets and stars can be observed on a cobalt blue chair in his dental office, where his son plays quietly with a tray of toys. The two bundle up and walk through the town, stopping once for "provisions" (gum). This import, published in Sweden in 1998, has a European feel; Eriksson dots Dad's dental jacket with tiny flecks of blood. The duo passes a small, neighborhood fish shop, hardware store, and market. Soft strokes and blended colors depict a cozy, congenial world that is supported by a sensitive translation. As the father enthusiastically guides his son to a hill, the boy asks: "What actually is the universe?" Although he is told it includes everything, his father's actions indicate that, "The way there was straight ahead and then to the left." Dry humor in text and illustration do not undermine the affection and quiet wonder that are also present. As the child marvels at a snail and thistle, Dad instructs him to look up, pointing out the Scorpion, Little Bear, and the Serpent. The heavens are difficult to decipher, but the boy can easily identify the smell and brown glob on Dad's shoe: "It's Big Dog!"