Scandinavian Christmas traditions and stories have been at the heart of my family’s celebrations for generations, from the pepparkakor (ginger cookie) recipe shared by my grandmother to the tradition of Santa Lucia, which my mother especially loved. As a parent, the traditions continued, especially as we raised our daughters in a church that celebrated Santa Lucia as a treasured part of Advent each year! As an educator, librarian, and picture book author, I value the way that picture books help me communicate and share special places, traditions, and values with the next generation, things that I’ve tried to share through my own Swedish Christmas picture book.
First published in 1966, I love this classic for its quiet invitation into a rural Swedish farmhouse and the family’s preparations for Christmas.
When the children go to bed in their cozy home, the snowy farm outside is being protected by a red-capped, long-bearded tomte (Swedish gnome). Even in a loud world, this quiet book captures a child’s attention as we watch the tomte share his annual gift of Christmas porridge with a hungry fox, thus saving the day for the chickens in the chicken house.
While the book is only subtly a Christmas story, its message of generosity and selflessness reminds us of some of the reasons why we celebrate the holiday.
It's a cold winter's night and a hungry fox is creeping through the snow.
He sees a hen house full of tasty chickens to eat -- but he's forgotten about the old tomten who guards the farm
This is a classic story of a mischievous fox, a wise, kindly tomten and their unlikely friendship.
This new edition of the much-loved picture book from the bestselling author of Pippi Longstocking is accompanied by beautiful illustrations by popular illustrator Eva Erikkson.
Depicting the traditional Swedish character of the house elf, or tomten, this classic story is perfect for sharing with young children…
Out of the many Christmas picture books my children received when they were small, this is the one that still gets pulled out and re-read every year.
Annika and her family draw us in as they prepare for the annual Christmas Eve smorgasbord. We hope, along with the main character, Annika, that this year we’ll be lucky and find an almond in the rice pudding, granting us our dearest wishes for the year.
We feel Annika’s moral dilemma when she does find the almond and wonders what she should wish for. Her love for her disabled little brother helps us understand once again that selfless love is at the heart of our favorite holiday.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 (NIV)
"What would I wish for?" Annika wondered aloud. "If ever I had the almond in my pudding...what would be my wish?"
In turn-of the-century Sweden, finding the almond hidden in the rice pudding is the Christmas Eve highlight for many children, since it means a chance to wish...for a new pair of snowshoes, a mountain of truffles coated with cocoa, an adorable kitten. For ten long years--all of her life--Annika has dreamed of discovering the almond in her own pudding. Will this be her year?
It's 1943, and World War II has gripped the nation, including the Stilwell family in Jacksonville, Alabama. Rationing, bomb drills, patriotism, and a changing South barrage their way of life. Neighboring Fort McClellan has brought the world to their doorstep in the form of young soldiers from all over the…
In this story, we follow a Swedish family as they celebrate Santa Lucia early in the morning on December 13th in a traditional manner.
I love the way the family then piles in the car to share their Lucia buns with their grandparents and then extends the joy even further by visiting neighbors who are new to Sweden.
If you are looking for help in creating your own Lucia pageant or home celebration, look no further! The back matter has you covered: it includes the story of St. Lucia, recipes for Lucia buns and pepparkakor, music and lyrics to Lucia's special song (in both Swedish and English!), and patterns for making the costumes.
In the busy house of the Svennson family, everyone is getting ready for the Swedish holiday of Lucia Day, December 13. The book tells the story of Santa Lucia through the eyes of three children in modern-day Sweden. It describes their giddy activities, brought to life in colorful, full-page illustrations, and also provides sheet music, recipes, and sewing patterns for the costumes traditionally worn by children on this day, when many Swedish people celebrate the legacy of Lucia and the coming of the light with coffee, saffron buns, ginger snaps, and wonderful singing. One of the most beloved and celebrated…
The enchanting photographs follow a Scandinavian-looking little girl as she acts on her greatest wish of adventuring north to join Santa’s elves.
A different animal guides her on each leg of the journey. Normally, I don’t much care for stories of small children who are left alone in the care of animal companions (remember Good Dog, Carl?), but what child wouldn’t want to imagine themselves ultimately flying with a reindeer or guiding Santa’s sleigh?
The ending leaves you wondering if it was just a dream after all, with the main character safe in her own bed. The pictures capture the Nordic spirit of the book, combining Scandinavian style with an America-style Santa Claus, and I really like the way that the photographs and simple charm set this book apart.
Celebrate the season with this New York Times bestselling wintry tale that will have readers of all ages believing in the magic of Christmas. This is one to pull out every year and savor all winter long!
In the merry tradition of classics like The Polar Express, this special picture book captures the holiday spirit. This is a timeless classic one to reread every year and savor all winter long!
Long ago, a brave little girl named Anja wanted to be one of Santa's elves.So she leaves a note for her family and helps her elderly neighbor prepare for the…
It's 1943, and World War II has gripped the nation, including the Stilwell family in Jacksonville, Alabama. Rationing, bomb drills, patriotism, and a changing South barrage their way of life. Neighboring Fort McClellan has brought the world to their doorstep in the form of young soldiers from all over the…
No list of Nordic-inspired picture books is complete without at least one book by Jan Brett!
While not specifically set in a Scandinavian country, the Nordic-sweatered elf, the Dala horse displayed prominently in a workroom, and the delightfully detailed borders place the book in this category for me and my Swedish-American family.
When the children were small, we read this together many, many times. It follows the story of an elf charged with getting Santa’s reindeer ready for the big night. Teeka, the elf, is new to the job, and the reindeer are reluctant to follow her orders.
Each time I read it, I legitimately worry when the reindeer’s antlers become hopelessly tangled!
Little Teeka thought she had to be firm with the reindeer to get them ready for Santa's important flight, but when her bossy yelling only got their antlerstangled up, she knew she had to try something different."Beautifully conceived and finely wrought." -- Booklist (starred review)"Brett's precise, glowing illustrations, drawing on Swedish folk art, make this a beguiling Advent calendar of a book." -- Kirkus Reviews"AA? sweet Christmas fantasy that shows Brett at her best." -- Publishers Weekly"This tale with its humorous close-ups of stubborn reindeer and a sharp child protagonist should prove popular at story hours." -- School Library Journal
In its starred review, School Library Journal says that this story, “reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit,” follows a newly-carved toy horse “who wants nothing more than to know the joy of being loved by a child, and that dream comes true when he meets a young girl who needs a bit of encouragement to participate in the Saint Lucia pageant. With a broken ear and no swishes, swirls, dots, or dabs, the toy horse finds himself being loved by her regardless.”
An adorable Swedish tomte, or gnome, practically begs to be discovered in his hiding places throughout the book.
