The children of the forest live deep in the roots of an old pine tree. They collect wild mushrooms and blueberries and shelter under toadstools when it rains. They play with the squirrels and frogs, and when autumn comes, they collect and prepare food to see them through the long winter, until the warm spring breeze starts to blow.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
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'Sustainability at its best and an inspiration for all would-be down-shifters! Recently republished in a new smaller format.' -- Juno magazine: a natural approach to family life
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
About the Author
Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) is the most popular children's illustrator in Sweden, where her picture books have been known and loved for over a century.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
102 of 102 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Adorable tale about a miniature family, mother, father, two daughters and two sons who live in the forest. Children play and go to school with forest animals. The animals and children speak to each other. There are several morals taught in the course of the story. Follows the family from one season through the next. The children help the parents work, harvest food for winter, etc. It is nice to see the children happily working with the family rather than just existing to be entertained. The children have several adventures and lots of different fun activities playing with the animals in the forest. The book is formatted with text on the left page with one or more black and white illustrations above and/or below it, and the right side of the book is one big full color illustration. The book is a large format. The illustrations are gorgeous and offer much to look at, many details, rather than just mimicking the exact words of the text. I wish there were more books of this high quality available today. If there are more 100 year old books like this, I wish they would be republished. The story is lovely and the adult will enjoy reading it over and over.
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By J. Brown
Format:Hardcover
Elsa Beskow is classic! What a wonderful book deeply explorative of the Earth. Elsa is accurate with her botanical drawings. She has such a beautiful mind! She places fairy children and elf children as the helping hands to Earth's changes. As the insects and bugs are preparing for Spring's entrance, the children paint and polish them. Perfect book for ages 2-6. Innocent, perfect for homeschooled children.
194 of 225 people found the following review helpful
By C. Pascale
Format:Hardcover
I purchased this book as I have read two other books by Elsa Beskow to my daughter.
The concept of seasons is one that takes time for young children to become aware of - my two-year old daughter is just experiencing her second winter, and Beskow's previous books slowly bring that awareness about. This book, again, does a good job describing the concept of seasons and children engaging with it. It does, however, describe other not so innocent concepts - killing and descrimination.
The father of the children decides for whatever reason, to go and exterminate bad snakes in the forest, also labeled monsters and enemies, as the children look on.
Having seen their 'heroic' father kill the snake and realizing that they are too small to kill such a large animal, they practice by trying to kill ants in the forest - after all ants are smaller than they are!
Maybe I'm being a bit sensitive, but I found myself changing the story at these points, rather than have my daughter be confronted with the idea that these 'good people' go about killing animals that they percieve to be bad or evil.
As a father, I have the sensational pleasure of watching my daughter become aware of the glorious natural world we live in, especially so during our walks in the forest. I would rather have her continue to see me as someone who respects and admires, than someone who has negative preconceptions about the creatures with which we share our planet
I will be returning this book.
The concept of seasons is one that takes time for young children to become aware of - my two-year old daughter is just experiencing her second winter, and Beskow's previous books slowly bring that awareness about. This book, again, does a good job describing the concept of seasons and children engaging with it. It does, however, describe other not so innocent concepts - killing and descrimination.
The father of the children decides for whatever reason, to go and exterminate bad snakes in the forest, also labeled monsters and enemies, as the children look on.
Having seen their 'heroic' father kill the snake and realizing that they are too small to kill such a large animal, they practice by trying to kill ants in the forest - after all ants are smaller than they are!
Maybe I'm being a bit sensitive, but I found myself changing the story at these points, rather than have my daughter be confronted with the idea that these 'good people' go about killing animals that they percieve to be bad or evil.
As a father, I have the sensational pleasure of watching my daughter become aware of the glorious natural world we live in, especially so during our walks in the forest. I would rather have her continue to see me as someone who respects and admires, than someone who has negative preconceptions about the creatures with which we share our planet
I will be returning this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such a wonderful story
I love the simplicity of the story and the lovely artwork. It's a beautiful book. My children love it almost as much as I do.
Published 1 month ago by Brandy J. Van Vossen
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wishing this was the RIGHT STORY
Received the mini edition of this book (the large version being difficult to find) for Christmas. The story is completely different from the story we've rented at the library, i'm... Read more
Published 4 months ago by zeebz05
4.0 out of 5 stars
a winner
Our 6 year old granddaughter LOVED it..Took it to school to share the day after receiving it. A winner! Sweet story line.
Published 15 months ago by lvs2hike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Children of the Forest Hardcover
A delightful little book that inspires the imagination. Watching the little family go through the seasons, the prose and the illustrations were all so beautiful! Love my purchase
Published 19 months ago by Michelle Ovens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Imagination and Nature tie together
My daughter and I have been reading The Littles series by John Peterson - I wanted to branch out a bit, and found this book and the others by this author to be a perfect fit! Read more
Published on April 30, 2011 by Reading in Rheems
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, Simple, Beautiful
"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. Read more
I couldn't describe the workings of the natural world better to my son than this statement and this book. Read more
Published on May 6, 2010 by FroggyMama
4.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful book
we love all of elsa beskow's books, and this one lived up to her beautiful story-telling style. the book is gentle, with no real climax to send sensitive children over the edge! Read more
Published on February 4, 2009 by Amanda Barnard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A perfect bedtime story
This book is everything a children's book should be. Imaginative and beautiful, it is one of our very favorites.
Published on August 8, 2008 by Paquita
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVELY
My little guys love this story. The children are so neat and their adventures are so great. It follows the children thru a year and who they meet and what they do and how they... Read more
Published on August 13, 2007 by H. Hawkes
5.0 out of 5 stars
A favorite from my childhood
All the Elsa Beskow books, but particularly this one, are very, very special, as you will see from the very first page. Read more
Published on March 20, 2007 by VB
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