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L'Excursion
Avec Eden, on a décidé de partir en excursion. Et pour camper dans le jardin, il faut qu'on soit bien équipés. Alors, dans un grand sac, on met une couverture, une corde à sauter, des cornichons, et puis nos doudous. Mais une fois sous la tente, on commence un peu à s'ennuyer. Et si on rentrait ?
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First published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 22, 2018
Questions answered by my 4 year old
Do you like this book?
Nah. They don't even have an adventure! It's just boring!
What's your favorite part of the book?
I like when the little boy says he has to poop. And they eat pickles. I like pickles. (Just to clarify, they do not eat pickles at the same they poop)
What do you think of the cover?
I like the tent because I like camping.
Do you want me to read it again?
Mm, nah.
The Grand Expedition is an adorable story about two children who decide they need to go on an adventure, just the two of them. They busy themselves packing what they need, and then set out on their very own adventure.
They have fun at first, but then they get bored. So they decide to go home (Since one of the boys needs to poop anyway!) and spend the night with their dad instead.
This was a very short book, with adorable illustrations that look like they were actually drawn by a child, in a good way of course.. I think it adds to the story.
The story itself isn't much. They pack, they go on a very short adventure, they get bored and come home. I would have liked a little bit more in the book.
Do you like this book?
Nah. They don't even have an adventure! It's just boring!
What's your favorite part of the book?
I like when the little boy says he has to poop. And they eat pickles. I like pickles. (Just to clarify, they do not eat pickles at the same they poop)
What do you think of the cover?
I like the tent because I like camping.
Do you want me to read it again?
Mm, nah.
The Grand Expedition is an adorable story about two children who decide they need to go on an adventure, just the two of them. They busy themselves packing what they need, and then set out on their very own adventure.
They have fun at first, but then they get bored. So they decide to go home (Since one of the boys needs to poop anyway!) and spend the night with their dad instead.
This was a very short book, with adorable illustrations that look like they were actually drawn by a child, in a good way of course.. I think it adds to the story.
The story itself isn't much. They pack, they go on a very short adventure, they get bored and come home. I would have liked a little bit more in the book.
May 17, 2018
Why we chose this book:
As the weather warms up, I've been seeking out books that encourage engagement with nature. When I saw this upcoming release from Enchanted Lion Books, I contacted them for a review copy, and they obliged.
Mom's Review (V)
Two siblings go on a backyard expedition.
The Grand Expedition was magnificent! Two young siblings decide to go on a a backyard adventure, which their father accepts as completely normal. What a wonderful message to send: independence, curiosity, and exploration are expected. The children pack a bag and stay out in a tent until they are ready to come in, to poop, no less. A simple story line follows such a natural turn of events that readers can easily picture themselves in the characters' roles. After reading this, T is ready to explore the backyard and sleep out in a tent!
Son's Review (T)
(age 3)
While reading:
Mom, reading: "Iban takes a jumprope, too. 'In case we need a lasso.'"
Son: Why do they need a lasso?
Mom: That's a good question. Do you know what you use a lasso for? Cowboy Small uses one...
Son: To roundup.
Mom: Yes, to catch animals. Would you want to catch animals in your backyard?
Son: Yeah. A squirrel. A chipmunk.
Mom: What would you do with them?
Son: Throw them in a can. Then put little holes in the can so they can breathe. And then I would pour water in the holes so they can drink. And then I would put food in there so they can eat.
Mom: Would you want to sleep in a tent in your backyard?
Son: Yeah, but I would not do the bugs. I would just do the worms.
Mom: What would you take on your expedition?
Son: Bananas, water, and a tie...to tie with.
After reading:
Son: Is that their house?
Mom: Yeah. Can you find the tent in the picture?
Son: Yeah. There's a little map!
Mom: You're right! Did you like the book? What was your favorite part?
Son: I liked it. When she pooped.
Mom: Hey, would you take any of your explorer tools on your expedition?
Son: My bug catching net. My magnifying glasses, my compass, and my binoculars.
Mom: And what would you want to do on your expedition?
Son: Look at animal poop!
(T is 3. Poop is fascinating.)
As the weather warms up, I've been seeking out books that encourage engagement with nature. When I saw this upcoming release from Enchanted Lion Books, I contacted them for a review copy, and they obliged.
Mom's Review (V)
Two siblings go on a backyard expedition.
The Grand Expedition was magnificent! Two young siblings decide to go on a a backyard adventure, which their father accepts as completely normal. What a wonderful message to send: independence, curiosity, and exploration are expected. The children pack a bag and stay out in a tent until they are ready to come in, to poop, no less. A simple story line follows such a natural turn of events that readers can easily picture themselves in the characters' roles. After reading this, T is ready to explore the backyard and sleep out in a tent!
Son's Review (T)
(age 3)
While reading:
Mom, reading: "Iban takes a jumprope, too. 'In case we need a lasso.'"
Son: Why do they need a lasso?
Mom: That's a good question. Do you know what you use a lasso for? Cowboy Small uses one...
Son: To roundup.
Mom: Yes, to catch animals. Would you want to catch animals in your backyard?
Son: Yeah. A squirrel. A chipmunk.
Mom: What would you do with them?
Son: Throw them in a can. Then put little holes in the can so they can breathe. And then I would pour water in the holes so they can drink. And then I would put food in there so they can eat.
Mom: Would you want to sleep in a tent in your backyard?
Son: Yeah, but I would not do the bugs. I would just do the worms.
Mom: What would you take on your expedition?
Son: Bananas, water, and a tie...to tie with.
After reading:
Son: Is that their house?
Mom: Yeah. Can you find the tent in the picture?
Son: Yeah. There's a little map!
Mom: You're right! Did you like the book? What was your favorite part?
Son: I liked it. When she pooped.
Mom: Hey, would you take any of your explorer tools on your expedition?
Son: My bug catching net. My magnifying glasses, my compass, and my binoculars.
Mom: And what would you want to do on your expedition?
Son: Look at animal poop!
(T is 3. Poop is fascinating.)
December 20, 2018
Casual and sweet, with a nonchalant mention of poop. I loved this.
July 29, 2018
Short but sweet book about two siblings who go on an adventure in their own backyard--from planning to actually going outside to camp and then end up coming back inside. The best part about of the book is the art--murky watercolor wash backgrounds meld with whimsical line illustrations.
The book is translated from Swedish and is published by the superlative Enchanted Lion Books.
The book leaves lots of possibilities open--it shows a Dad but no other parents; he might be single or perhaps the other parent is gone. Even the children are open--with colorful, non-gendered clothing and mop-heads, my 7 year old was not sure if they were boys or girls.
As Publishers' Weekly says, the book "...relays a familiar truth of childhood: sometimes planning a novel activity is more fun than the activity itself."
Interestingly enough, Emma Adbåge, the award-winning Swedish author and illustrator, has a twin sister, Lisen, who also writes and illustrates picture books.
The book is translated from Swedish and is published by the superlative Enchanted Lion Books.
The book leaves lots of possibilities open--it shows a Dad but no other parents; he might be single or perhaps the other parent is gone. Even the children are open--with colorful, non-gendered clothing and mop-heads, my 7 year old was not sure if they were boys or girls.
As Publishers' Weekly says, the book "...relays a familiar truth of childhood: sometimes planning a novel activity is more fun than the activity itself."
Interestingly enough, Emma Adbåge, the award-winning Swedish author and illustrator, has a twin sister, Lisen, who also writes and illustrates picture books.
July 1, 2019
Cute little story about two siblings who are planning an expedition . With words like conjure and poop and mentions of squashed ants and mosquitos, most young readers will find this one amusing. They may even decide to plan their own expeditions.
March 5, 2018
In The Grand Expedition, two young siblings plan an adventure together. They choose their equipment and supplies and pack it all themselves, without adult assistance. When Dad informs them there are no treats for their expedition, they bravely make do with a jar of pickles. The children are confident and take-charge kids! They know just where to set up camp and what they want to do when they get there. And, when the fun runs out, they matter-of-factly return home, where Dad is waiting with a cozy couch, a crocodile movie and –hmm- cheese puffs.
The watercolor illustrations show the children’s determination to do everything themselves and to have a grand time, too. They also depict the children as simply children, neither explicitly male or female, or any particular age. They are just children taking an active role in creating their own fun.
Recommended to children (and parents) who might be ready for a little more independence. This could be matched with other books about children having adventures – maybe Harold and the Purple Crayon, Where the Wild Things Are, Roxaboxen, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, for a fun stretching-your-wings story time.
The watercolor illustrations show the children’s determination to do everything themselves and to have a grand time, too. They also depict the children as simply children, neither explicitly male or female, or any particular age. They are just children taking an active role in creating their own fun.
Recommended to children (and parents) who might be ready for a little more independence. This could be matched with other books about children having adventures – maybe Harold and the Purple Crayon, Where the Wild Things Are, Roxaboxen, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, for a fun stretching-your-wings story time.
August 24, 2018
Two children head out into the backyard on a camping adventure. For their expedition, they try to pack everything they need. Unfortunately, there are no snacks to take along although their father offers them some pickles for their adventures. They head out to the backyard where the tent is already set up. They make their beds and discover a squished ant in one of the books they brought along. Soon they were out of pickles, one of them has to poop, and there’s a mosquito buzzing around. They head back to the house, tell their father about their adventure, and watch a movie all together.
There is something entirely lovely about this quiet book. Any child who has camped in the backyard will see themselves here. From the little drama of the ant in the book to the pickles to the need to suddenly return home, each element is so clear, so child centered, so realistic. The strong relationship the children have with their father is another highlight of the book. The illustrations have a supporting quiet simplicity to them and yet the busyness and clutter that also accompanies childhood.
A charmer of a picture book that is recommended reading at your next camp out in the backyard. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
There is something entirely lovely about this quiet book. Any child who has camped in the backyard will see themselves here. From the little drama of the ant in the book to the pickles to the need to suddenly return home, each element is so clear, so child centered, so realistic. The strong relationship the children have with their father is another highlight of the book. The illustrations have a supporting quiet simplicity to them and yet the busyness and clutter that also accompanies childhood.
A charmer of a picture book that is recommended reading at your next camp out in the backyard. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
March 20, 2023
Two children, who seem extremely young, make a "grand expedition" of pitching a tent in the yard and sitting in it, eating snacks and "reading" a "nature book," until the mosquitoes find them. Either the older child is one of those four-year-olds who say "reading" when they mean looking at the pictures, or these children's lack of outdoor experience is disgraceful.
Plus points: the children don't bicker, and they are, as a matter of course, at home with Daddy, not fretting about Mommy being at work or wherever.
Minus point: the narrator specifies what people do in the bathroom.
It's a picture book, and the pictures have won high acclaim in Sweden. If you like the pictures and want to share this book with a child, I can imagine a three-year-old liking it, but by age five children I know would consider it babyish.
Plus points: the children don't bicker, and they are, as a matter of course, at home with Daddy, not fretting about Mommy being at work or wherever.
Minus point: the narrator specifies what people do in the bathroom.
It's a picture book, and the pictures have won high acclaim in Sweden. If you like the pictures and want to share this book with a child, I can imagine a three-year-old liking it, but by age five children I know would consider it babyish.
July 26, 2018
Nothing big happens, but this captures everyday stuff with kids -- let's go explore, gather supplies, head for the backyard. Love the freedom given to the two siblings although you get the idea that dad is watching from inside. Also, love that there's dad overseeing the day rather than the ubiquitous mom. Text is straight forward and gentle bits of humor are included from having to take pickles as a treat to one of the kids needing to poop (very important part of kid humor). Simple backgrounds, clear line drawings with selected portions colored. A quiet story sharing children's imagination, play, and life at home.
September 24, 2020
I liked it. It's very kid, in that it's a big amount of hubbub but not much that actually happens. But I like these kind of stories that are vignettes of real life in all its mundanity. My three year old enjoyed it but it felt like she was a bit scandalized by the one kid talking about how they needed to poop. Definitely worth a read if you like stories about backyard exploration, kids striking out on their own, camping, and just life, as it is for a kid. Also cool to see a story with a single parent dad, that doesn't go into the backstory of that at all.
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April 27, 2021Two towheaded children plan and embark upon a grand adventure—which turns out to be a truncated
night in a tent in the backyard—in this charming Swedish import. The smaller of the siblings narrates the outing, which begins with supply requisition (flashlight, nature book, toy knives) and site prep, all of it happening under the bemused and not particularly watchful eye of the children’s father. Their time in the tent is grand indeed, until darkness sets in, accompanied by mosquitoes, sharp rocks between shoulder blades, and the “need to poop.” Plus, pickles aren’t an especially gratifying treat. So
the children return to the living room, where their father is watching TV and eating cheese puff s, and find happiness. Mission accomplished. Adbåge’s soft illustrations—clear, spare, pencil sketches in undefined planes, overlaid with loose washes of watercolor—establish a gentle, slightly off beat family scene, reinforced by little narrative details in the text such as a jump rope used as a lasso or a squashed ant in the pages of the nature book. This small adventure, with its amusingly ironic title, offers a satisfaction that is perfectly childlike and profound in its own way.
Lexile Level: 260L
Grade: pre-2
night in a tent in the backyard—in this charming Swedish import. The smaller of the siblings narrates the outing, which begins with supply requisition (flashlight, nature book, toy knives) and site prep, all of it happening under the bemused and not particularly watchful eye of the children’s father. Their time in the tent is grand indeed, until darkness sets in, accompanied by mosquitoes, sharp rocks between shoulder blades, and the “need to poop.” Plus, pickles aren’t an especially gratifying treat. So
the children return to the living room, where their father is watching TV and eating cheese puff s, and find happiness. Mission accomplished. Adbåge’s soft illustrations—clear, spare, pencil sketches in undefined planes, overlaid with loose washes of watercolor—establish a gentle, slightly off beat family scene, reinforced by little narrative details in the text such as a jump rope used as a lasso or a squashed ant in the pages of the nature book. This small adventure, with its amusingly ironic title, offers a satisfaction that is perfectly childlike and profound in its own way.
Lexile Level: 260L
Grade: pre-2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2018
Something seems lost in translation from the original Swedish, such as an actual “grand expedition.” Vocabulary like “conjure,” “sulk,” and “nursery rhymes” suggest that the actual audience for the story is not 4- and 6-year-olds like these kids but adults remembering such expeditions from long ago, with very little color or verve left over from the original memories, much like Adbage’s murky illustrations.
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April 19, 2020Title: The Grand Expedition
Author: Emma Adbage
Published: 2017
Age Appropriateness: K-3rd
Summary: This tells the story of 2 kids and all the fun adventures they get to have with their dad!
Review: This book was so cute, and had great illustrations. I think it would be a great read aloud, although the fact that the dad is a main character may be a sensitive topic for those who dont share that characteristic. But other than that, a great book!
Author: Emma Adbage
Published: 2017
Age Appropriateness: K-3rd
Summary: This tells the story of 2 kids and all the fun adventures they get to have with their dad!
Review: This book was so cute, and had great illustrations. I think it would be a great read aloud, although the fact that the dad is a main character may be a sensitive topic for those who dont share that characteristic. But other than that, a great book!
May 25, 2018
Really fun picture book that captures the essence of children--their dialogue, their wishes, their fears. I could see this as a book that some kids would want to read again and again, and encourage young children to want to have their own backyard adventures.
The book design and illustrations are superb.
The book design and illustrations are superb.
July 4, 2018
This book would pair well with Koko and Bo. It also belongs in a set of picture books about kids who run away, then change their minds and come back home. These two aren't running away, but their grand expedition does go sour (maybe because of the pickles?).
May 6, 2019
Not in love with this one. The casual mention of needing to poop got a laugh out of me, but overall it was unfocused and a little confusing. Not sure how well it would hold the attention of my kiddos for storytime.
October 23, 2022
I think the point of this book is to show that even a camping trip can be a big adventure. However, the book falls flat and the expedition comes across as rather boring - even the kids come inside because they say they are bored. Skip this one.
May 24, 2018
Easygoing pace, snapshot of everyday life's ups and downs for kids (in this case on a backyard camping excursion), kinda cool to see little clues about life in Sweden from the illustrations...
September 8, 2018
Despite a lack of treats in the kitchen the main characters prevail and go on a grand expedition. So, what finally breaks our grand adventurers? Mosquitoes and the need to poop.
September 30, 2018
What a great children's picture book. It feels like a future classic.
October 6, 2018
We did a family camping program and used this book. Had a super fun time.
October 12, 2018
This book was OK. Illustrations weren't my favorite but I appreciated the premise of the 2 young boys wanting a grand expedition and ultimately discovering that home really is the best place to be.
December 1, 2018
the art style was nice, but the story itself felt very... unfocused. it almost felt like the story was actually written by a child; which perhaps that was the author's intent.
May 2, 2019
Slow, cozy little book about camping and adventuring with a sibling.
November 14, 2023
Jag vet , jag vet. Man måste gilla allt som Adbågarna gör... eller?
August 18, 2024
You know I love my Swedish picture books. Do we think that "toy knife" in English was just "knife" in Swedish?
October 13, 2025
Simple, child like idea, nice humor. Very flat tho
June 28, 2024
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
December 15, 2021
Cute little story about two siblings on a tiny expedition. Cute simplistic illustrations. We thought the part about the ant in the nature book was both funny and sad.
August 6, 2018
Delightful adventure story originally written in Swedish. The tale was very hygge, the pictures wonderfully spare in the best of Scandinavian style and the sisters delightful. I fondly remember long days of backyard adventures with my siblings too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews