A total of 2,204 printed children's and youth books were published in Sweden in 2021, which is an increase of eight percent compared with the previous year.

The largest increase was found in the category of middle-aged books, which increased by 21 percent, followed by picture books and fact books.

Smaller categories such as drama, poetry, songbooks and collections decreased or remained unchanged.

This is shown by the children's book institute's (Sbi) annual book review, which was published during the day.

Activism and body positivism are increasing 

Activism and resistance are still popular themes in Swedish children's and young people's books.

New for last year's publication, on the other hand, is the collectivist idea where several children come together to create change.

Different types of bodies have also become more common and according to Kajsa Bäckius, librarian at Sbi, many books have a body-positive message.

- We have several books where fat people are bullied and teased because they are fat and then they still find a way to stand up for themselves and for their body, says Kajsa Bäckius, librarian at the Swedish Children's Book Institute.

- They want to show that the thick body is also good and that it is like any other body, says Kajsa Bäckius, librarian at the Swedish Children's Book Institute.

New habits after the pandemic - hiking and cultivation

Last year, the corona pandemic was a theme that characterized the publication, several books were about viruses, vaccines and diseases and how to deal with them in different ways.

This year's book test still shows traces of the coronavirus, but now the new habits that the pandemic brings with it are also visible.

Several books are about outdoor life and mountain hiking.

- The books often contain a mixture of fact and fiction and you get advice and tips on what to do when you are out in the mountains, says Kajsa Bäckius, librarian at the Swedish Children's Book Institute.

During the year, about ten books on cultivation were also published, which was a marked increase over the previous year.