''Very Tricky, Alfie Atkins'' ( sv, Aja baja, Alfons Åberg) is a 1973 children's book by

Gunilla Bergström Gunilla Elisabet Dukure Bergström (3 July 1942 – 23 August 2021) was a Swedish author, journalist, and illustrator. She is best known for her series of children's books about the character Alfie Atkins (Swedish: ''Alfons Åberg''), which she ...

. Translated by Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, it was published in English in 2005. As an episode of the

animated TV series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...

it originally aired over SVT on 4 January 1980.

Book cover

The book cover depicts Alfie Atkins, climbing out of the wooden helicopter in the

jungle A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...

Plot

Alfie is 5 years old, and likes it when his father plays with him. His father keeps his

tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

box in the wardrobe, but Alfie is not allowed to use it, because the saw is dangerous. Instead, Alfie enjoys playing with his cat Puzzle. Some days Alfie's father sits alone reading the newspaper and watching TV, not caring much for what Alfie does. When Alfie asks for the toolbox he is allowed to use it, as long as he watches out for the saw. Alfie brings the toolbox and planks. His father continues to read and tells him not to use the saw. Alfie works with the tools and only the sound of the hammer is heard. Alfie builds a helicopter and imagines himself travelling over the

at night, under the Moonlight. Puzzle turns into a lion and runs right towards Alfie. Alfie yells that he needs the saw and his father looks to see what is happening. He now joins his son in the game. They pretend to travel away watching boats, cars, planes and clouds from the sky, before landing in the living room. When the TV news begins, Alfie's father wants to watch. Alfie pretends to be stuck between the planks and his father says he maybe needs to use the saw to break him free. Alfie admits he was just pretending to be stuck and it is not necessary to use the saw. Alfie is happy that his father played with him.

References

{{reflist *Aja baja, Alfons Åberg,

, Rabén & Sjögren, 1973 1973 children's books Rabén & Sjögren books Works by Gunilla Bergström