Originally The Swing was published posthumously in 1913 (I know I said I would primarily review board books from 2000 to the present) however, it was not fully illustrated and made into a board book until 2012. I hope you don't mind the indulgence.
The Swing is a lovely ode to the whimsicality of childhood. Capturing the memory of what it feels like to go up on a swing and back down, Robert Louis Stevenson invites the child (and the adult) to enjoy the simple moments in life -- for moments are fleeting and childhood is short.
The illustrator (Julie Morstad) did a lovely job of capturing the dreamy mood of the text with her illustrations of swings coming in and out of the pages as if with each page the swing goes up and back down.
One thing I found interesting was that on nearly every page (except for one) each child is seen swinging alone. This detail, I think is important as perhaps a metaphor for the space and time a child needs to dream, and to ponder life's many lessons. In a world that is constantly abuzz with noises and distractions, The Swing is a welcome getaway into a world still dazzled by a slower passing of time. Childhood moments won't last forever so let us marvel in their presence.
