Ollie's Ski Trip by Elsa Beskow

Elsa Beskow is a fabulous author/illustrator. Her pictures are often touted in Waldorf and all natural circles. Not entirely sure why, but they are sweet. I have never bought any because they are pretty expensive, even used, and I thought they were way too wordy. After buying the Elsa Beskow calander this year, I decided I should try one of her books. (I love our library's inter library loan.)

Lo and behold, it is cute and the little kids loved it. There are definitely a lot of words per page, so this isn't necessarily a toddler book, but for a slightly older child, these are a sweet and magical introduction to fantasy. That is old Jack Frost up there on the cover. And as they go to see King Winter, they encounter Mrs. Thaw who must be banished until the proper time. 

It actually sounds cloyingly sweet, but it doesn't seem cloying when you read it. 

(I love these little wooden ski people.)

Ollie, gets a new pair of skis for his sixth birthday and is anxious for snow to finally fall so he can use them. That is him celebrating, one morning when he wakes up to a snow covered world. He did three somersaults in a row on his bed. And then went off to try his skis.  

Poor dreary Mrs. Thaw who always has a cold. Jack Frost scares her off. 

King Winter's palace.

Little old men and women working at King Winter's palace. King Winter appears to be a bit of a Santa Claus, with all these people scurrying around making things for Christmas.

The place sleds, skates, and skis are made. 

And lest you pity these poor kids working in slave like conditions, they get recess. 

Recess means skating, snowmen, snowballs, and sledding. 

Then Jack Frost toes Ollie and his skis back home behind a reindeer. 

Ollie got some skates from Jack Frost on Christmas morning. 

Here, he and his brother are yelling at Mrs. Thaw and telling her to stay away. Poor Mrs. Thaw. No one seems to like her.

Mrs. Thaw is winter's cleaning woman, so she tidies the world for spring. Spring prances in in a carriage towed by white butterflies. 

Mrs. Thaw has the short end of that deal.