"A Child’s Adventure in the Swedish Countryside: A Storybook Installation" at Scandinavia House

You don’t have to grab a train out of town to give your city kid a taste of country pleasures. Just head to Scandinavia House, where a vast room has been transformed into a pastoral wonderland filled with whimsical literary characters. The interactive exhibition was designed to help youngsters connect with both classic and contemporary storybooks from Sweden, which will be unfamiliar to most American children. To that end, visitors are able to do a lot more than leaf through tomes as they traverse the various attractions.

Created by artist and set designer Sarah Edkins, the exhibit features breathtaking murals, hanging umbrellas, elevated "grass"-covered platforms, a hut and tent, and a faux lake fashioned from mirrors, all of which immerse visitors in a plethora of literary worlds. Each area in the room corresponds to a different tale; the books are, of course, resting nearby, although reading may not be your tot’s top priority. A model of Astrid the Spy Fly hangs from the ceiling and buzzes close to Maria Jonsson’s eponymous book, while a painting of Herr Gurka (Mr. Cucumber) hangs by his tome, Här Dansar Herr Gurka. English translations are available for many of the books.

Whether your child’s looking to burn off energy or enjoy some quiet time, there’s an activity to satisfy. Behold a comfy, velvet “blueberry couch,” which begs tired tykes to sit and peruse the books' vivid illustrations; a few miniature “rooms” filled with Brio blocks for building; and a hut near the "lake" that’s the perfect place to take a "country" snooze. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to do as the exhibit’s big banner says, and “go on an expedition” with your family.—Vanessa Friedman

"A Child’s Adventure in the Swedish Countryside: A Storybook Installation" is on permanent display at Scandinavia House. Open Saturdays noon–5pm. $5.

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