Soda Pop by Barbro Lindgren
Gecko Press, 2017. ISBN 9781776570119
(Age: 9+) A faint hum begins and a cloud of smoke slowly advances
from the horizon. The hum turns to howling and growling as it comes
closer. Then a huge swarm of tigers arrives - through the garden,
squeezing into the barn, diving into the swimming pool.
Soda Pop loves bright orange clothes and wears a tea cosy on his
head. He has brought up his son Mazarin on sweet buns and love.
Grandfather Dartanyong emerges from his woodshed every morning with
a new identity, and Great-grandfather thinks he is a cuckoo. Their
peaceful existence is shattered when the group of hot dog eating
tigers decides to move into the barn and owls that live in the barn
start sleeping in the mail box causing Dartanjong problems.
The story is set in a very unusual world. The characters lead a
carefree life in a non-judgemental world where anything can happen.
The usual rules do not apply in this story full of nonsense. The
illustrations by Lisen Adbage add another dimension to the
characters.
This is a classic Swedish tale that was first written in 1970 and
has only recently been translated to English. It has been so popular
in Sweden that it has been made into a stop-motion animation series,
a cartoon, a play, an opera and a comic. Suitable for children 9 and
up.
Kathryn Schumacher