The children of the forest live deep in the roots of an old pine tree. This book invites children to follow their engaging adventures through each ...
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reviews
Jun 18, 2010
Kathryn
rated it: 
4.5 stars. 5 stars for the artwork; 4 stars for the story. I absolutely loved the charming Scandinavian style of the artwork and the beautiful forest settings; adorable but also nature-based and realistic--for although I have never seen a small forest family playing games with squirrels or attending a school taught by an owl, Beskow manages to make it seem real. They are cute without being made "cutes-y"--not really sure how to describe it. The story is nice, too, spanning an entir
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Jun 29, 2010
Manny
rated it:
Every small Swedish child is read this classic picture book in verse, about the family of little tomtar (roughly, pixies or leprechauns) who live under the old pine tree. It's so sexist that a line from one of the early verses is often quoted by Swedish people as shorthand for gender stereotyping:
Och far är stark och modig, och mor är blid och rar- "Father is strong and brave, and mother is sweet and kind". You shudder.
And yet the book is utterly charming, and Swedis More...
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 24, 2011
Allison
rated it: 
I love stories about mystical beings and the Children of the Forest are such creatures. I believe a lot of children would love them too but they seem to have fallen a bit out of fashion these days with so much literature cemented in more realistic themes. I feel that the imagination is a most precious thing and that stories like this one feed the imagination in a way unmatched by realism.
The artistry in the illustrations in Children of the Forest are magnificent. Like several other be More...
The artistry in the illustrations in Children of the Forest are magnificent. Like several other be More...
Jul 05, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
This book is precious, but not in a gooey way.
The illustrations are lovely and amazing. The animals and nature theme are very appealing, as are the children of the forest and their family. I guess kids can have fun speculating about a few things after they’ve reached the last page of the book.
The story is told in an interesting manner. On the left side pages there are black and white drawings and the story text, and on the right side pages are glorious full color illustr More...
The illustrations are lovely and amazing. The animals and nature theme are very appealing, as are the children of the forest and their family. I guess kids can have fun speculating about a few things after they’ve reached the last page of the book.
The story is told in an interesting manner. On the left side pages there are black and white drawings and the story text, and on the right side pages are glorious full color illustr More...
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 20, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Our whole family loves this book. The pictures are gorgeous, the text is playful, and the intimacy with the natural world that it espouses is definitely appreciated. Elsa Beskow also follows my "Rule Number One" of reading to my four-year-old son: never ever ever mention something interesting in the text that you do not intend to include in the illustration. (It's so frustrating to have him interrupt constantly: "But where's the [fill in the blank]?!") Every animal, object, p
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Mar 21, 2011
Abigail
rated it:
This delightful little picture-book fantasy from Elsa Beskow - first published in Sweden in 1910, as Tomtebobarnen ("Brownie Children") - is a celebration of the natural world, and of the seasons of the year, as seen by a family of tiny woodland brownies. Mother, Father, and four children - Tom, Harriet, Sam and Daisy - all live together in a snug little house "under the curling roots of an old pine tree." The four siblings have many adventures in their forest home, playing w
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(4 people liked it)
Apr 26, 2011
Jaimie
rated it:
I love this so much. I got it for my girls this spring, and we've read it many, many times already. I never tire of reading it to them, and they ask for it often. The pictures are ridiculously adorable. I love that the little forest family lives simply but thoroughly enjoys life. There's just a bit of danger, just a bit of mischief, and some adventure. I love the presentation of the changing seasons. I can't wait to try some more of her books.
Jan 24, 2010
Winslow
rated it:
You especially love the troll (which used to frighten you) and love to feed him the blueberries in the field outside his cave. You like Boffo the frog. You point to the big wheels on the wagon and say, "That's drum." You frequently hit the baby on the last page, to the point where the page is now bent. We don't know if it's so much love that you must express it with physical intensity, plain old aggression, or what?
Jan 01, 2011
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
I must start out the new year by reading a book from the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. This is from Sweden and has a copyright date of 1910.
Jan 26, 2012
Cheryl in CC NV
rated it:
Aww.... Great addition to the collection that includes such books as The Borrowers and The Littles Not as sappy or as sexist as one would fear from such an old book. Cute, yes. A little excitement and humor, too. I loved the detail of why they wear those mushroom caps you can see in the cover - it's so if a human comes near they can crouch and be camouflaged, and in the winter they switch to acorn helmets.
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Jun 18, 2010
Ann
rated it:
A very cute story. The drawings are very sweet and captivating, and the idea of little mushroom-hatted people living in the forest is absolutely charming.
The only thing to note for sensitive readers, is that there is a dangerous snake that the father kills to defend his family. (that sounds much worse than it comes across though).
If you have the time, this is a delightful little book.
The only thing to note for sensitive readers, is that there is a dangerous snake that the father kills to defend his family. (that sounds much worse than it comes across though).
If you have the time, this is a delightful little book.
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Mar 01, 2009
'helen'
rated it:
This is one of Nate's faves - he reads it regularly, and loves to act out scenes from the book - including running from the troll, poking the ants, and narrating the scene where the hedgehog takes the dead snake away... the illustrations are enchanting - I loved Elsa Beskow as a child, although I didn't have this story. I'm so happy I have it now!
Sep 22, 2008
Dave
rated it:
Just finished this one again with my seven year old daughter, who helped read it this time. I love Beskow's children of the forest. Each time I read it, I cannot help wishing that I had grown up as a child of the forest, taught by the wise Mrs. Owl, and being so aware of the seasons.
May 07, 2008
Space Opera
rated it:
If you have a small child, you really need to purchase some books by Elsa Beskow. We love not only the stories but also the beautiful illustrations. They put most of the current books on the market to shame.
Sep 17, 2008
Allysun
rated it:
I've read this book to my daughter probably 15,684 times. It is a wonderful tale, lengthy for a 3 year old, beautifully illustrated.
The perfect birthday gift for any 3-5 year old in your life!
The perfect birthday gift for any 3-5 year old in your life!
Feb 07, 2008
Morgan Djuna Sorais
rated it:
Elsa Beskow wrote some of the most beautiful stories. Children of the Forest is no exception. I recommend it to all children and olders who have a love for magic and forests.
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