Junibacken facts for kids
Junibacken is a special place for children in Stockholm, Sweden. It's like a magical world built around Swedish children's books. It was created by Staffan Götestam, Fredrik Uhrström, and Peder Wallenberg. You can find it on the beautiful island of Djurgården.
The Swedish royal family officially opened Junibacken on June 8, 1996. It's now one of Stockholm's most popular places to visit! The whole attraction celebrates Swedish children's literature, especially the amazing stories by Astrid Lindgren. Outside the building, there's even a statue of Astrid Lindgren. A Swedish artist named Marit Törnqvist designed the inside of Junibacken. She also drew pictures for some of Lindgren's books.
Contents
Exploring Junibacken: A World of Stories
Junibacken is home to the biggest children's bookstore in Sweden. When you arrive, you'll see lockers shaped like giant book spines. They feature classic stories like Treasure Island and The Jungle Book.
Storybook Square: Meet Your Favorite Authors
One of the main parts of Junibacken is the Storybook Square. It looks like a town square, but each "house" is dedicated to a different Swedish children's author. You can learn about writers from long ago, like Elsa Beskow, and more recent ones, such as Sven Nordqvist.
The square leads to a pretend Vimmerby railway station. This station has cool things related to Astrid Lindgren. You can even see a letter praising Lindgren from Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the president of the Soviet Union.
The Story Train: A Journey Through Lindgren's Books
From the station, you can hop on a special train ride. This "Story Train" takes you through the worlds of Astrid Lindgren's famous books. Each part of the ride shows a scene from one of her well-known stories. You'll see places from books like Madicken, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, Emil i Lönneberga, and The Brothers Lionheart.
The train ride finishes at a half-size model of Villa Villekulla. This is the colorful home of Lindgren's most famous character, Pippi Longstocking!
Fun Beyond the Books: Theatre and Exhibitions
Junibacken also has a theatre where shows are performed. There's a restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. Plus, there's a special area for temporary exhibitions. These exhibitions usually focus on one author or character and stay for about 11 months. Some popular past exhibitions have featured Pettson and Findus and Trazan och Banarne.
Junibacken is a member of Swedish ICOM and Riksförbundet Sveriges museer. However, it's not a museum in the traditional sense because it doesn't collect old items. Instead, it's a vibrant place where stories come to life!
Changes to the Story Train Dragon Scene
In 2006, a scene on the Story Train was updated to be less scary for children. This was the dragon scene.
Why the Dragon Scene Changed
Originally, the train would pass very close to the dragon, Katla. This scared many children who rode the Story Train. Because of this, the scene was changed. The old dragon was made of latex and moved a little, roaring as the train passed.
The New Dragon Experience
In the new dragon scene, visitors see Katla from a distance. It's like looking through the eyes of the characters Skorpan and Jonathan. The new dragon is made of metal and does not move. This change makes the experience more enjoyable for all young visitors.
