The Tomten and the Fox [Paperback]

Astrid Lindgren (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Charming, hushed illustrations and quiet text together evoke the soft, snowy silence and winter beauty of a Swedish night".--School Library Journal. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Moonlit scenes of the farmyard under snow show Reynard the fox prowling near the henhouse. He's hungry, but Tomten, the kindly old troll who guards the henhouse at night, shares his porridge with the fox and the hens are safe--for another night. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698115929
• ISBN-13: 978-0698115927
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves > Fiction
  • #62 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves

More About the Author

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) created the character of Pippi Longstocking to entertain her daughter. Lindgren was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her contribution to international children's literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, poor printing quality, December 2, 2005

By 

Joel N. Peterson (Hiroshima, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tomten and the Fox (Paperback)

I have always loved this book, and recently ordered a new hardbound copy for my three children. When I received it, I was surprised at the markedly poor paper quality and the poor saturation of both the pictures and the script on the facing pages. Yes, the illustrations are watercolor, that is not what I mean. The ink and just the overall print quality are cheap-seeming. Near the copyright it states "printed in (third world nation)". To those of us who remember when t-shirts were union-made domestically and didn't fall apart after five washings, this seems like part of an overall trend.
But the book is still wonderful, worth buying. I am considering ordering copies from the UK amazon site for my relatives, Europeans seem a bit smarter about keeping up printing and other manufacturing standards.
Similar problem with "The Tomten", even in the hardbound edition.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More About the Kindly Tomten, October 16, 2002

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tomten and the Fox (Paperback)

This book was originally published in 1966 and maintains all of its original charm. It is the simple story of the friendly house spirit called the Tomten that keeps watch over a Swedish farm homestead, its animals and people. We have met this Tomten before in another wonderful book by Astrid Lindgren called The Tomten. In this story, which takes place around Christmas time, we find a hungry fox faring out on a cold and snowy winter night in search of food. The illustrations are so beautiful and they really transport you to a cold, quiet winter night with snow crunching underfoot and stars sparkling overhead. The characters of the Tomten and the fox are very engaging and are sure to be well-loved by children. The text is very simple but has a lyrical quality that is the perfect compliment to the homey and comforting artwork.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping children process, November 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tomten and the Fox (Paperback)

A few months ago my son was terrified of an imaginary being (imaginary to me, maybe there was something really there that only he could see). This scary being had fire all around it and my son was truly terrified of it. I finally said, "maybe it's hungry. I think if we offer it some food he will go away." So we did this and thankfully the being did go away, verified by my son. But, the next day this fire being was back. So we fed it again and it went away.

The Tomten and the Fox was recommended to me by a friend. Ever since we bought the book the fire being hasn't been back.