Mormor Moves In

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria.

Astrid Svensson is five and three-quarters when her Swedish grandmother,
Mormor, moves in. Astrid’s initial excitement quickly turns sour.
Mormor is mourning the death of her husband, Morfar, and her sadness
conflicts with Astrid’s youthful joy. In her grief, Mormor lashes out
at Bjцrn, Astrid’s teddy bear and best friend, calling it spoiled and
“smutsig—filthy.” Hurt and insulted, Astrid wants Mormor to go,
and even goes so far as to suggest that Mormor join Morfar in heaven.

Astrid’s suffering is further compounded by the loss of Bjцrn.
Mormor suggests that it was for the best, as he was just “a dirty old
sak”; Astrid calls Mormor a “mean old poop.” As Astrid grieves,
Mormor softens and purchases a replacement bear, a cleaner and newer
Bjцrn. When Astrid finds the old Bjцrn (and then has two teddy bears
on her hands), she realizes the scope of Mormor’s loss and seeks to
comfort her. The two settle into a calm understanding of each other.

Mormor Moves In is a poignant tale of love, loss, and change as
experienced through the eyes of a young child. The full-page
coloured-pencil illustrations gently add to the emotional component of
the story, showing Astrid’s love for Bjцrn, her sorrow when Mormor
moves in, her loneliness on losing Bjцrn, and her eventual emotional
connection with Mormor. Highly recommended.