Book guide: Congratulations, Svea Fors!
Finally party!
Svea wants to invite everyone to her party! And the cake should say Svea, not Simon. But dad thinks it's enough if a few come to the party. There are no chairs so there is enough for everyone. Then Svea gets an idea...
Questions about the book
1. Svea Fors thinks that everyone in the class should be allowed to come. Dad thinks there should be as many people as they have chairs? Why do you think the father thinks so? What do you think?
2. Svea Fors was called Simon before. Have you changed your name or do you know someone who has? If you were to change your name, what would you like to be called?
3. Svea thinks about what it would be like not to be invited to a party. How do you think it feels?
4. Svea invites everyone to the party - but she doesn't say anything to her father Why do you think she does that? Could she have done it any other way?
5. In the dining room, Abdi asks Svea if something has happened. How can you see in someone that something has happened, even if they don't say anything?
6. Svea Fors is about to turn one. She thinks that planning the party is almost as much fun as having it. Do you enjoy planning things to happen?
7. Amir has a bakery. What do you think it's like to work in a bakery? Is there something you think would be fun to work on when you grow up? What seems good about it?
8. Svea arranges a surprise party. Do you like surprises? Have you ever made a surprise? For yourself or someone else? Or have you received a surprise from someone?
9. Svea Fors wants his name on the cake. What would you like on a cake if you had to choose?
About feelings
All people have feelings, but because of our gender roles, girls and boys are trained differently to recognize and express emotions. In this book, we see Abdi paying attention to a classmate, Svea, and her feelings. Furthermore, he engages with her dilemma and shows care. In this way, Abdi contributes to broadening the expectations of who is empathetic in the social interaction, and gives a reflection to the guys who are like him. Abdi also becomes a role model for all children.
About being transgender
More and more children today are questioning the idea that there are only two possibilities: to be a male person with a cock or a female person with a neck. Many children also choose other ways of being, such as being a boy who uses feminine attributes such as dress. Others do like Svea Fors. Svea is one of the children who changed her gender so that it matches who she feels she is. She changes her name from Simon, and the pronoun from he to she, thereby reflecting the increasing number of children and young people who do or want to do the same. The identity of children and young people, just like that of adults, is something that can change over time. Remember that it is always you who chooses who you want to be, what your first name is and whether you want to be called she, hen or he.
