I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was quite an interesting book seeing how children handle the pain and then the attention of a bloody injury at primary school age. And then how they can handle the difference of healing and what will come afterwards. I think it perfectly depicts the drama and fuss of an injury at that age, especially from the memories I have of classmates of that age getting injured.

PEPPER AND ME has a Swedish cousin... It's THE WOUND by Emma Adbage!

This book employs both an honest accounting of the kids-eye emotions of an everyday playground experience (a wound!), and the brash, exaggerated style of retelling that so many kids enjoy when recounting their tales of woe.

This is a standout picture book in translation for 2025.

Wounds and injuries can be very drastic and special experiences for children.
As an adult, you often remember (I do) the first time you lost a tooth at school or had a minor accident while playing. Measured in adult life, a week with a plaster or bandage is a short time, in the young lives of children it is an eternity in comparison.

In “The most beautiful wound”, the children run wild around the table tennis table in the schoolyard. An improvised game because there are no rackets. The improvised game has strict rules. One child stands on the table and cheers on the others, who chase each other. An almost anarchic scene, as we know it from Emma Adbåge's picture books.

At the climax of this scene, it happens and the nameless narrator bangs off the table. BANG!

After a brief moment of shock and the appropriate treatment of the wound, the injury and the wound become THE topic in the classroom and schoolyard. Although the wound itself hurts, it also brings the young narrator attention and an adventure narrative.

But what happens when the wound gradually heals? The blood becomes a scab and later the scab falls off? It will simply disappear and nothing will prove that something really bad has been overcome.

The only consolation is the hope that a scar - at least a small one - will remain

A great book about childhood fears, worries and confusing feelings about a fading part of identity.

This was such a cute, funny and realistic look at the very serious undertaking of being a kid! I loved the evocative pictures of the kids inventing new games when the ping pong paddles broke, the way everyone is interested in a new development (in this case, the main character's wound), and the attention and drama that kids revel in. This book will be well-loved in primary classrooms, and I highly recommend it for library storytimes. I can't stop smiling after reading this!

I'm not sure I really understood this book! The story is of a boy at school who falls and cuts his knee. Lots of other children (and a pigeon) crowd round, before he is taken inside to have it cleaned up. Everyone wants to see the plaster and the boy gets a lot of attention and special treatment, until, a week later at the pool, his scab comes off in the water and everything goes back to normal. The boy is disappointed to lose his scab and is reassured by hearing that he'll probably have the scar for a long time.

The whole story just felt a bit odd.

I did like the use of colour in the illustrations, which were very muted greys and browns except for splashes of predominantly bright red and green.

The Wound by Emma Adbage is an absolute gem of a picture story book.

Melissa Bowers translation is pitch perfect.

Imagine playing with friends when you fall and cut your leg - there is blood - there is concern and there is care and support.

This is a short tale of one such accident from the pain to the healing

Emma Adbåge’s illustrations are wonderful - quirky but with feeling ..it’s worth looking closely at every page ( especially for the pigeon and the facial reactions ) Teachers sharing this book with a class will be entertained - especially at the staff room scene.

This is an ideal story for 3-7 year olds-exploring the emotions of pain and the recovery. The prose is spot- on and funny as well.

As for the healing process and the scab ..well, no spoilers here- you’ll have to read the book 😊

No wonder this book has won awards 😊😊

Highly recommended