Customer Reviews

The Tomten (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have loved this book for over 40 years. The copy I have was printed in Sweden a long time ago but I am very glad that this story is available as a nicely affordable paperback because it's such a sweet and comforting tale that lots of children will love. The beautiful illustrations capture perfectly the crisp, cold, snowy atmosphere of a still winter's night as the Tomten, a small spirit and guardian of a humble farm homestead goes about on his secret rounds doing his caretaker duties in his gentle, loving way. He whispers encouragment to the sleeping animals and children. He has seen many hundreds of winters and so he knows that "winters come and winters go, summers come and summers go" and the wheel of the year turns on and on. I encourage you to read this to children to help them feel safe and cozy and snug in their beds on a cold, dark winter's night...maybe try it this Winter Solstice and be sure to keep a look-out for tiny footprints in the snow around your home.

As a swedish kid it is a tradirion to read this book. Tomten is a rime about a smal helper we belived in in north europe Viktor rydberg and Astrid Lindgren have done an excelent work trying to put down in words and picture what makes winter and christmas so special.

A tomten is a gnome like creature that stands watch while the rest of the world is sleeping. This old tale should be recommended reading for everyone. The tomten is disappearing with our grandparents and great-grandparents. This is a wonderful tale!

"The Tomten" by Astrid Lindgren is one of the most comforting books for children. The story remains with them through a lifetime. My 32 year old son and 35 year old nephew still would like to have "Tomten" books to read to the young ones in their families.

I had this book when I was very small. My uncle who was a librarian gave us a library bound edition hardback. I discovered it at my grandma's house when I was visiting about 15 years ago and almost cried. I could still remember it. I brought it home and read it to my kids and they all loved it. I agree about the picture quality in the paperback, sort of washed out and not as good as the old hardbacks. If you can get hold of an older copy, from a library or something, it will probably not be in pristine shape but will have the nicer paper and illustrations.

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 (despite being hardbound) 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 and the Fox".

Look for the 1961 version if you care about presentation. I bought this thinking I was getting a deal. However, when I got it, I was disapointed. It's missing some pages and it has an extra 8 blank pages all throughout the book. The paper and scanning quaulity were awful. I did like one thing about it. My son was 3 when we got this book and I didn't want him to see print at the time (for personal waldorf education beliefs). The print is on one page and the pic is on the other. This format was great for us because I could cover the print page and expose only the pic page while I told the story.

I have always loved this story and was happy to find the book again. The hardcover might have better quality pictures--the softcover one seemed slightly faded from what I remember -that is why I only gave it 4 stars. Otherwise it is a wonderful story which is perfect for bedtime (especially if you live on a farm).

My three year old has loved this book for the last year and it is still a favorite bedtime story. The quiet prose combined with the repetitive and beautiful imagery make this a beloved story before bed. Highly recommeded!

I read this to my children when they were growing up in Alaska. The warm drawings (despite the cold setting!) have stayed with them into adulthood. My older child even quotes from it from time to time ("Winters come, and winters go. Soon the swallows will be here."). This is a wonderful, cozy book to read to your little ones on a cold winter's night. Not so bad for warm summer ones, either!