Barnhans Land is very much a version of the Seven Acre Woods. Here a group of stuffed animals and other discarded pieces of trash are experiencing adventures on a very small scale. The storytelling is episodic, and, like with Pooh, the atmosphere is gently existential. Barnhans Land is a more crazy place though, and just a little darker, more anarchistic and unpredictable. Barnhans himself is a more despotic ruler than Christopher Robin, with his interest in burying things in the sand (especially poor Nöken), and his newly developed urges to create lakes and mountains. But mostly, things are the same in this little world. The Bisam Rat is struggling with his poetry. Mack the rubber monkey starts a noisy rockband to the horror of Farbrornallen. And the Cork is coming back again, crazy and megalomaniac as ever.

One important difference between Pooh’s world and this, though, and perhaps it’s main strength, is the presence of death. Ellen the elephant is hanging in her tree, slowly losing her stuffing. And with the arrival of the cute little Pricknallen, both Röden the dog and Farbrornallen, both elderly gentlemen, are reminded of their mortality. There’s a lot to love here (and Elis, our boy, does).But there is also something just a little static, and a few times I wish things would get stronger consequences. Nevertheless, this is a pretty original take on the anthropomorphic philosophical child tale, and I’ll look forward to read the concluding part. ( )