Junibacken.

One of the highlights of our trip to Stockholm was a visit to Junibacken - a children's museum devoted to Swedish children's literature, in particular the works of Astrid Lindgren. First stop was 'Storybook Square' with its cobblestone streets and little houses. Oli above - pouring tea in Moominmamma's (Tove Jansson) kitchen and riding Mulle Meck's motobike. Next stop was the 'story train' which took us through these amazing little recreations of Lindgren's books (the photos above don't do these justice). Though the train was more like a slow rollercoaster, going up and down, left and right. As we entered each setting, the narrator (a recorded voice) would read little excerpts from that particular story. At one point Oli freaked out at a giant rat from the story Emil and the Sneaky Rat. It was huge, very life-like and we were pretty damn close to the thing. The story of The Brothers Lionheart? Um, depressing. Those Swedes can write about some dark and heavy stuff at times. Luckily there was a Pippi Longstocking mini-Panto after the train ride to cheer us all up. And ice-cream. And a play on a pirate ship and in Pippi's house - Villa Villekulla. And the biggest children's bookstore in Stockholm.

xxx