Snipp, Snapp, Snurr, and the Red Shoes

Snipp, Snapp, Snurr

by Maj Lindman

Each of three young brothers works hard to earn his share of the money needed to buy a special birthday present for their mother.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Sweden

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

Maj Lindman (Mrs. Maj Lindman-Hulten) lived in Stockholm, Sweden. She attended the Royal Academy of Arts in Stockholm, and also studied art in Paris, France. She wrote and illustrated numerous children's books, but she is best known for her delightful tales of triplet girls Flicka, Dicka and Ricka and their boy counterparts, Snipp, Snapp and Snurr.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr desire to earn money for their mother’s birthday gift, the red shoes lined with gold. They sound so extravagant, just the luxury item a mother desires and deserves! They each work hard with zest and zeal and soon have enough money to buy the coveted shoes. Oh, what a happy day to present them to mother! These triplets are delightful, old-fashioned and sweet, filled with happiness and good cheer. A charming feel-good story of a happy loving family and the satisfaction of brightening another’s day with a fancy frill.

[Cookie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books made such an impression on me when I was little I never forgot them. I was thrilled to find them reprinted. I mentioned these darling towheaded Swedish triplets once on an internet group I belonged to, and was shocked to find one other woman who remembered and loved the books as much as I did. The Red Shoes was my favorite. It must have made quite an impression on me. I am still a sucker for a good pair of red shoes myself.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I discovered Lindman's two book series about the triplets: 'Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka' and 'Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr,' I was enamored. I checked out several at a time until I'd read them all. Then, after a couple of months, I'd read them all again. It's been years since I read them that thoroughly, but this book is on my shelf. There's so much to like: the children are triplets (apparently identical); they have unusual names; they live in Sweden; they have adventures; and the art is colorful.

In this story, the boys decide to buy some beautiful red shoes for their mother's birthday (after first considering a train, a pony, and a wagon). They set off to earn some money. Snipp paints a fence red, and covers himself with paint, too. Snapp cleans chimneys and turns black. (That had to have been a new idea for me.) And Snurr helps the miller and turns white. (A miller? Another new word.) Their mother loved her new shoes (and apparently didn't worry about the ruined clothes.)

In the foreword of my copy of the book, Alice Dalgliesh wrote: "The pleasant little story holds the interest of children throughout. It is one of the few stories we have in which children actually do something for someone."

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all loved this series as kids.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr book. I loved how the three little boys work so hard to try and get their mom her new red shoes!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I remember reading these books with my grandparents. It still stands up, and I just got to read it to my three nephews!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A battered hardback (back cover totally missing) of this book hung around in my parents' house when I was small, probably inherited from a much-older sibling (my eldest brother is 25 years my senior). The name has dogged my memory since then, so the other day I found it on the Internet Archive. I remembered the three boys as seen on the cover, and thought it would be a standard "three brothers make their fortunes" fairy tale. Well, it is, in a sense. Three young brothers go out and find a way to earn money to buy their mom the pair of red shoes with gold linings she wants for her birthday.
Probably a hymn to grit, independence and hard work paying off in its day. Today there would be complaints about child labour--sending Snapp down a chimney, for example. At least Snurr carries the heavy flour bags on his own without being told to, so I guess that makes it okay.
I see there is a whole series of these stories, along with a companion series about little girls named Flicka, Ricka and Dicka, poor kids.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids loved it

My son told me he loved the book and asked if we could “give it all the stars.” We’ve read the gingerbread book from the same series and both kids loved the books.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not like red but loved this book.

[Jessica Pool · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book. I liked how it showed my kids a family that got along and worked together

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boys work hard in the outside world to get a birthday present for their dear mother.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three adorable little boys each go find a job to earn money for a special birthday gift for their mother. Great character learning story.

[Teri-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book my Mom used to love to read to me when I was little. She's been dead for years, but I can still hear her voice saying, "Snipp, Snapp and Snurr..." :)

Read to your kids. Please. They'll remember.

[Aurora Dreams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child. My mother must have read it a million times to me!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully simple story about the three Swedish boys working to buy their mum the red shoes she wants for her birthday.

[Elanor]

All by herself!