Children of the Forest: Mini Edition (Elsa Beskow Mini)

Children of the Forest ends with the following lines :" A new year was beginning in the forest and this is where we must leave the children. But if you like, think about them and their forest friends, and that way, their story will never end." This is one of those children's books that appeals to children with lots of imagination. The illustrations are absolutely divine, and the mixture of reality and fantasy is fantastic and includes both little people, trolls, and fairies. There is nothing modern or unsettling about the Children of the Forest, indeed it can seem a bit 'old fashioned' at times, but isn't that great in this day and age? I also found that my children wanted to continue talking about the Children of the Forest and make up their continued stories for a long time after the book was finished. You can also extend the story by letting your fantasy run further by making mushroom hats like those the Children of the Forest wear from papier mache, and you will have lots of fun together as a family.

The beautiful story of a little family of forest people living under a tree. The four children wear red and white bonnets like toadstools, and this is an account of their days among the trees - playing with squirrels, riding on a bat, meeting a toad by the pool. There are dangers - father has to don his pine-cone armour to do battle with a viper, and when the boys poke an ants' nest they get stung. Not to mention the troll... Then there's picking fruit and mushrooms for the winter. Gradually summer comes to an end. "Mist settled in the hollows like white breath and the children played at leapfrog with the rabbits until it was time for bed." Time for the children to go to Mrs Owl's school and for Father to weatherproof the home; but also fun in the snow, harnessing a hare to their sledge and taking food to their neighbours. And then spring returns - birds nesting, a chance to paddle in the thawed stream, and "they had a new, round, pink baby brother of their own." (Lovely b/w drawing of the whole family out walking, father in his pinecone hat, an axe over his shoulder, while mother has baby tied to her back and children follow behin.) This could easily have turned into a sentimental, sickly work. After all, there's no major storyline. And yet the author manages to keep it an absolutely delightful read which any little girl (or adult, come to that!) would adore.

Lovely story and illustrations.

Beautiful illustrations

This book is very special, I read it to my three and six year old boys at bedtime and they always pay attention the whole time and really enjoy looking at the beautiful illustrations. It's a small book but the story is reasonably long, not overly, just perfect for a bedtime story.

Absolutely love this book, it's so cute & the illustrations are classic. They have such warmth & character to them, it's a little bit magical. A perfect boom for any age to read

Delightful book for my 5 year old. Younger children may not like the one page in which the father has to kill a snake to protect the children. The illustrations are beautiful.

The pictures are beautiful and timeless although unfortunately the book is too small to really show them to any great effect. The text is dated (as you might expect from a book first published in 1910 but nevertheless irritating) and disappointing. There are typing errors, gender stereotypes (the boys are allowed spears and the girls expected to prepare food), and unexpected and violent death (they kill a snake then carry its body around). Furthermore, the story is rambling with unnecessary time spent in naming everyone and everything (yes, even the slayed snake has a name) and little depth. I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, I’d love larger prints of the beautiful illustrations. You can keep the text.

Nonostante il piccolo formato é un piccolo gioiello. Le illustrazioni sono carinissime.

"Never hurt the creatures of the forest, unless they mean you harm." I couldn't describe the workings of the natural world better to my son than this statement and this book. Nature is not always kind, not always pretty. But the cycles of life mean that one creature eats another, and thus we all take energy so that we may live. I'd rather introduce my son to the ways creatures try to defend themselves and cling to life, and then someday he will learn that sometimes, animals give their lives so that we may eat and live. And if he is ever in a life-threatening situation someday, I want him to be able to defend himself with strength, not cowering in fear as he worries about hurting someone or something else who means him harm. There are so many beautiful lessons in this book, about the seasons of life and taking care of ourselves. The little boys even learn in a very visceral way to be kind to the creatures who will not harm us - when they are stung by the ants they have disturbed. This is going to be a wonderful story, one that we will read and enjoy over and over throughout the years. It represents the fantasy childhood world I want my son to encounter, and is a beautiful reminder of the magical life.

I love children's books and especially ones which are beautifully illustrated. In my opinion I think Elsa Beskow is a much better illustrator than Beatrix Potter. I wish she were more well known. Really nice series of books which I'm hoping to share with my grandson.

Very fun fairy story. Perfect if you want your kids to enjoy playing outside and encourage their imagination. Fun for boys too! Not all princesses. This book tells the adventures of a very happy and hard-working tiny family Who lives hidden down in the forest floors with all of the squirrels, rabbits, critters, and fairies. The story sweetly promotes the value of listening, obedience, working together, being brave, and being kind. For kids that tend to be fearful, there is one page where the little children find a troll who "gives them a fright". He never harms them but it does show kind of a scary face peaking up over a rock and laughing at them as they scurry away. I think it is a beautiful little book, and the kind that is difficult to find. The artwork is so sweet. :-) My two-year-old son loves it and it would easily be fun for much older children too.

My bad for not reading the item description carefully, and not realizing it was a mini version. Beautiful book, but it is rather small. Fine for small hands though! My 3 year old likes it.