The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert & Illus by Per Breiehagen

This book combines a few of my favorite things--northern animals, girls in pigtales, Scandi clothes, and pops of red. 

It is even way cuter than my pictures. Find a copy and read it for yourself.

Anja lived way up north where mothers never pack away hats and mittens. 

And one year, she decided she would find Santa so she could be an elf. 

She had a few things to knock off her to-do list before setting off--namely, helping the kind old woman down the road get ready for Christmas.

Even carrying in the tree, all by herself.

Then she planned her route and informed her friend and family. 

She seems to have those conveniently distant parents that always allow young children to do absurdly independent things in stories. 

As she set off, a friendly red bird came down to help her find her way.

Skiing so fast the bird could hardly keep up.

Then the bird handed her off to her friend the horse

Watching Northern Lights from on top the horse

Then a friendly polar bear enters the picture and she reads him a story.

Before snuggling in for a nap. 

Aren't these photographs cool? Clearly they are digitally collaged together, but so perfectly! 

Apparently this whole story started with a picture of Lori Evert's daughter feeding a caribou. She liked the picture so much she built a story around it. Not sure if this is the specific picture, but if it is, I can see what she meant. 

Adorable! 

Finally, Anja finds Santa.

And Santa tells Anja that what she does at home for the little old woman down the road already makes her one of Santa's important helpers.

He brings her back to the little cabin in the woods, leaving a bell as a momento. 

The next thing Anja knows, she wakes up in bed. 

Was it a dream? But there is a bell....

And the book ends on the open ended question---"What do you think?"

I LOVE THIS PICTURE. It has no bearing on the story, but oh my. All that red and snow and wood and fur. 

Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo & Illus by Kerry Hyndman

This book is lovely and gorgeous and.... you should just read it. 

I SO LOVE THIS BOOK.

The focus here is on the Scandinavian Robin's migration from Scandinavia to Britain during the winter. 

But the text---

Come, my heart, and come, my wintgs, 

Fly, fly before the cruel snows,             

Carry me, carry me home                     

I must be on my way                            

On my way.                                           

So gentle and measured.

Michael Morphugo is a rather famous poet who now owns farms that he and his family invite urban kids and their teachers to come live on to see how farms work. 

I want to be him when I grow up.

Out of the forest, into the daylight.

Over the fields, follow the valleys.

Find the river, my river will guide me.

Be strong, my wings, beat fast

Beat on.

Sweeping landscapes and birds eye views.

Kerry Hyndman is a must-see-more kind of illustrator. 

Shelter

Danger

Friendship 

Refuge

Refreshing

And finally, finally, home and familiy. 

These robin facts are on the copyright page, which confused me. My first read through I thought there were no robin facts, which was unfortunate since I wanted to know more about robin migration as soon as I read this book. 

They use the stars to navigate! How clever of them!

How ever you are coming home this year, I hope you journey brings you where you want to be.

December from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

Christmas is here again,

the tree is on its way,

Lucia in her candles crown,

the family all dancing.

Santa comes with laden sack.

The snow falls thick and fast.

Christmas is here again

with parcels

and presents

and candles

and cake

and magic

and lights in the Windows.

It is Christmas

--a feast,

a festival, 

of Christ.

Happy December!

November from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

October from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

September from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

August from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

July from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

June from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

May from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

April from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

March from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

February from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

Blue skies and ice

wherever we go,

slipping and sliding 

deep in the snow.

Uphill and downhill,

neither leaf nor green;

the sun bright and clear, 

no grass to be seen.

Woolies and hoods,

on toboggans all day.

Gloves on our hands

and Spring far away. 

Bak home Mama's baking

 big loaves and small. 

How hungry we are--

we'll soon eat them all!

January from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

Tick-tock says the clock,

it's twelve of the night. 

The New Year's here

and the stars are bright.

The old year's gone, 

he's tired and worn. 

Christmas is past,

The tree all shorn. 

The star-children come

 in the dead of the night, 

like three Wise men

bringing the light.

Tick-tock says the clock. 

The New Year's come. 

Good Year to you all

until the next to come.

Stina's Visit by Lena Anderson

I am not totally sure where this book came from. But it is sweet with fabulous watercolor illustrations, so I am just glad it is here. 

Endpapers--so gorgeous!

Every summer Stina visited her grandfather in his small grey house on an island. 

This is a book about Scandinavia, grandfathers, granddaughters, summertime, and friends.

This, as you may have guessed, is Stina--pleased as punch about her latest find from the ocean. I love the worried hippo.

She thinks her crate will work as a boat, but clearly it doesn't. I like the fact that she tells her grandfather it would make a great boat and he just says, "Indeed." and lets her try it out herself rather than delving into a long explanation of floating and engineering.

The hippo was right to be worried.

Did you notice Grandfather and his charming table? What is it about Scandinavians and their decorating oozing charm in the simplest ways?  

One day, Grandfather tells Stina it is his good friend Stretchit's birthday. 

I love Stina poking through her treasures. By the gigantic picture window overlooking the sea, of course. 

Getting ready for Stretchit's birthday celebration. Stina offers her not-quite-good-enough-for-a-boat box to carry everything in. 

"Stretchit says that he lives on God's thumb," said Grandfather. "That's his house. It's the farthest one out on the point. Stretchit says it's like living in Paradise."

At first, they couldn't find Stretchit. But then they discovered him huddled under his blankets.

Honey sandwiches would cheer anyone up!

They do the trick! Stretchit was moping in bed because he thought no one remembered his birthday. 

Stretchit is a volatile fellow. 

They sit down to eat honey sandwiches and listen to Stretchit's excessively tall tales about life on the high seas.

I love grandfather calmly sipping his tea and reaching for another honey sandwich while Stretchit goes into some sort of gymnastics while telling his story. 

Grandfather says, "Indeed." a lot while Stretchit is telling this story. He manages to interject Indeed into the largest holes in Stretchit's story. 

Stina is entranced.

Grandfather's calm is broken by Stretchit spilling the tea and honey sandwiches by hurling himself onto the table to escape from sharks.

Grandfather remembers his flask of tea and calmly refills while Stetchit brings his story home with an energetic punch or two. 

Before they leave, Stretchit asks them to sing him a birthday lullaby. I love Stina singing away. And Stretchit's big nose.

And the washtub that Stretchit gives Stina. The very one he climbed into with his very last strength to escape the sharks. The one that carried him from the Pacific Ocean all the way to God's thumb in Sweden. 

Stina trying out the tub. Hippo is still worried. 

But Stina never could understand how Stretchit had managed to fit in it. 

A marvelous book about a childhood summer spent in an idyllic place.