Customer Reviews

The Tomten and the Fox

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Hi, my mom read this book to me when I was very little and I am buying it now so I can read it to me kids. It is a wonderful story about a hungry fox and a kind tomten who watches a farm and he feeds the fox, it will really touch you and your children

For years my mother used to read The Tomten, by Astrid Lindgren to her elementary school classes, and they loved it. When she retired, she gave the book to my family. My children fell in love with the book as well, and attributed all things unexplainable in our house to the Tomten. My husband, especially loved the book and declared it as one of his all time favorites. When I found that there were more Tomten books, my children ordered this one to give to their father this Christmas. He was delighted! While the verbage is simple and repetitive, the children listen and laugh while we read it. The real beauty and fantasy is in the artwork, which makes the book memorable. You will find that you embellish the story in your mind, long after the reading is finished. The plot is sweet and charming, and sure to become a family favorite to read every winter!

We have checked this book out from a local library and fell in love with sweet illustrations. I ordered it from Amazon and am EXTREMELY disappointed with the quality of this book: the illustrations are much duller than in our library copy and they look very grainy and blotchy, on some pages it looks as if the pictures were done on a cheap printer that leaked blue ink - with specks and streaks all over :(
If I hadn't promised my kids to get our own copy and they weren't expecting it, I'd send it back right away.

Amazon delivery was super fast though: I ordered it yesterday and found it on my doorstep today, that's why I'm giving it 2 stars instead of one.
I guess I'm off to ebay, to find an earlier (and better quality) printing.
(This one states "Manufactured in China", while our library copy was "Printed in Canada")

This is such a sweet and gentle book for winter reading to children. My son loved "The Tomten," and "The Tomten and the Fox" is just a perfect addition to our winter library. The illustrations are soothing and perfect for bedtime reading.

The soft, lyrical text combines with the beautiful artwork to make a terrific book to read to children as they drift off to sleep. My three children all ask for this book over and over again!

Although it is difficult to imagine that such a beautiful book like The Tomten could have a worthy sequel - it is true. Tomten and the Fox is equally enchanting as The Tomten. In very few pages, the authors manage to create the winter atmosphere of a sleepy farm and a sense of harmony as the tomten restores peace to the farm. A perfect story for the childe and adult to read before falling to sleep on a winter night.

This is a wonderful story for children. My twins really enjoyed it as did I.