The illustration from Selma Lagerlöf's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is by Boris Diodorov.
Fairy tales report from imaginary territory ...a magical elsewhere of possibility; a hero or heroine, or sometimes both together are faced with ordeals, terrors, and disaster in a world that, while it bears some resemblance to the ordinary conditions of human existence, mostly diverges from it in the way it works, taking the protagonists -- and us, the story's readers or listeners -- to another place where wonders are commonplace and desires fulfilled. -- Marina Warner -- Once Upon A Time, A Short History of Fairy Tales
The illustration of the Tomten is by Harald Wiberg.
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Sweden
Sweden, after 1850, changed from being a largely agrarian society to one that embraced the industrial revolution. An era of prosperity developed and continued into the next century. It was,however, a conservative culture, dominated by tradition and the ethos of the Lutheran church. Nevertheless, two exceptional women writers flourished, both of whom, in their own ways, lived full, independent lives, outside the mores of mainstream society.
Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was an excellent writer, and an independent woman in a rather repressive society.The plays of Henrik Ibsen and, later the films of Igmar Bergman speak to this stifling atmosphere in no uncertain terms.
Selma is second from left, top row, in this school photo.
Lagerlöf overcame very difficult childhood years and was working as a teacher when she entered a writing contest.
She submitted several pages from a work in progress that was to become her first novel -- Gösta Berling's Saga (1891). She won the contest and the book became a Swedish classic.
She appears to have been deeply influenced by the beauty of Varmland, an area in western Sweden where she grew up, and by the family tumult created by her alcoholic father.
"The scene is laid on the shores of Lake Fryken (Lake Löven in the story) in Värmland. Using wolves, snow, supernatural elements and eccentric upper-class characters to project an exotic image of 1820s Värmland, the novel can be compared to magic realism. The title is meant to give associations to the Icelandic sagas. The first sentence, 'Finally, the vicar was in the pulpit', is one of the most famous in Swedish literature . . . Wikipedia
This book propelled Lagerlöf into a life as a writer of popular novels. Soon she had sponsors that included the Swedish Royal Family as well as recognition and membership in the Swedish Academy. In 1909, she became the first woman to win the Noble Prize (1909).
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A Children's Book in 30 Languages
When asked by the Swedish National Teachers Association to write a geography book for children, Selma Lagerlöf came up with an imaginative approach that endures today: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906) is a delightful story of a young mischievous farm boy who is shrunk to the size of Tom Thumb. Clinging to a goose to escape danger, he finds himself flying on the back of the goose. His travels take him to many adventures where he must overcome dangers and obstacles in the natural world. Very well written, the book is filled with continual surprises. Here is an excerpt.
"The boy had grown so giddy that it was a long while before he came to himself. The winds howled and beat against him, and the rustle of feathers and swaying of wings sounded like a whole storm. Thirteen geese flew around him, flapping their wings and honking. They danced before his eyes and they buzzed in his ears. He didn't know whether they flew high or low, or in what direction they were travelling.
After a bit, he regained just enough sense to understand that he ought to find out where the geese were taking him. But this was not so easy, for he didn't know how he should ever muster up courage enough to look down. He was sure he'd faint if he attempted it."
Here is a link to read The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.
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Selma Lagerlöf's Private Letters
Despite the pressures of mainstream Swedish society, Selma had the courage to live her own life; she was not living in a Doll's House. Fifty years after her death, her private letters were published, revealing that throughout her adult life, she maintained deeply felt relationships with two other very accomplished women: Sophie Elkan and Valborg Olander.
Great discretion was necessary. In addition to the mores of a very conservative society, there was a Swedish law (1864) against homosexuality, including women, that stayed in effect until 4 years after Lagerlöf's death.
Here is a link to a compassionate and informative article in Artlark regarding Selma's private life and her important lesbian relationships with Sophie Elkan and Valborg Olander. A well regarded tv series, based on their letters, was produced in Sweden in the 90's.
The top photo is of Sophie Elkan, Selma Lagerlöf, and Valborg Olander.
The photo of the two women is of Selma and Sophie.
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Storytellers
"Storytellers ought not to be too tame. They ought to be wild creatures who function adequately in society. They are best in disguise. If they lose all their wildness, they cannot give us the truest joys."
- Ben Okri, author and Man Booker Prize winner (Thanks to Terry Windling)
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Astrid Lindgren . . . Children's Books In 70 languages
Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) was a gifted, prolific, independent Swedish woman who wrote a very large number of successful children's books, still considered to be wonderful by her readers today.
She is best known for her Pippi Longstocking series. A single mother, she said that Pippi was written to entertain her daughter (who was ill), and asked her for a story about Pippi Longstocking. Pippi was later made into several popular films and a television series.
Her books have been translated into 70 languages. One hundred and sixty five million of her books have been sold worldwide.
The photo of Astrid Lindgren is by Jacob Forsell.
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Pippi Longstocking
"Pippi is red-haired, freckled, unconventional and superhumanly strong – able to lift her horse one
-handed. She is playful and unpredictable. She often makes fun of unreasonable adults, especially if they are pompous and condescending. Her anger comes out in extreme cases, such as when a man ill-treats his horse. Pippi, like Peter Pan, does not want to grow up. She is the daughter of a buccaneer captain and has adventure stories to tell about that too. Her four best friends are her horse and monkey, and the neighbours' children, Tommy and Annika." -- Excerpted from Pippi Longstocking on Wikipedia
Here is a ink to the Pippi Lingstocking books.
The illustration is by Ingrid Vang Nyman.
Here is a link to a delightful You Tube montage of the TV show based on the Pippi Longstocking books.
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The Tomten
Astrid Lindgren wrote the story of the Tomten, a Swedish Elf, with a hushed, intimate quality. A Swedish writer, Viktor Rydberg had earlier written a poem about the Tomten. This was a point of departure for LIndgren. In her hands, and with the wonderful illustrations of Harald Wiberg, the book became a Swedish classic. It was followed by the Tomten and the Fox: Here is an excerpt:
"The Tomten is awake. He lives in a corner of the hayloft and comes out at night when human beings are asleep. He is an old, old Tomten who has seen the snow of many hundred winters. No one knows when he came to the farm. No one has ever seen him, but they know he is there. Some times when they wake up, they see the prints of his feet in the snow. But no one has ever seen the Tomten."
Here is a YouTube link to The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren, from a poem by Viktor Rydberg, illustrated by Harald Wiberg.
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"I want to write for a readership that can create miracles. Children create miracles when they read. That's why children need books . . ."
Astrid Lindgren
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Carl Larsson . . .Romantic and Idyllic Art
Carl Larsson (1853-1919) created a body of work that personified the dream of wonderful family life. His fame and popularity became widespread as the quality of book printing in color improved. A House In the Sun was published in 1909 by the innovative German publisher Karl Robert Langewiesche. It was a great success, selling 40,000 copies the first year. The book and Larsson are well known and admired to this day in Northern Europe.
Larsson grew up in poverty and had a very difficult and painful boyhood. However, his life and his work changed after marrying the gifted artist Karin Bergöö. They had eight children and their life together was the source of his many pastoral paintings.
Here is a link to Carl Larsson's work on Google
Here is a link to Larsson's page on Amazon.
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Jon Bauer . . .Among Gnomes and Trolls
Jon Bauer was a wonderful Swedish artist who found inspiration in Swedish mythology and folk tales. He first achieved popular fame with his wonderful illustrations of Swedish Folktales, His watercolors of the mystical world of trolls, animals, and princesses have become iconic.
I find his work to be in the top tier of classic children's artist/illustrators. His technique is his own as seen in the illustration on the left of Princess Tuvstarr. The story and Bauer's evocative illustrations for this myth and others can be seen by following this link to Art Passions.
A tragic accident took place when Bauer and his wife (artist Ester Ellquist) and their young child were traveling in Sweden. They took a ferry boat that capsized in a heavy storm on lake Vatt wherein all the passengers and crew were lost.
Here is a link to a delightful YouTube presentation of Bauer's work with Swedish Folk Tales
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Movies
Eighth Grade
I haven't seen this movie yet, but Manohla Dargis wrote that it was outstanding. I have great respect for Ms Dargis. I will see it; meanwhile, here are excerpts from her review:
"There are few more poignant, exasperating creatures than teenage girls. (I speak from personal experience.) And rarely are they as heart-pangingly real as the girl fumbling through the sharp, smart comedy “Eighth Grade.” Like a lot of people, Kayla (the wonderful Elsie Fisher), spends a lot of time tethered to a cellphone that serves as her touchingly imperfect portal to the world. . . "Eighth Grade” is a simple story of an unremarkable girl, tenderly and movingly told. It was written and directed by Bo Burnham, a stand-up comic who started out by posting videos of himself on YouTube.
Movies about teenagers are often filled with contrived excesses, but Mr. Burnham understands that some of the most pronounced extremes — the drama, the comedy, the horror — take place in that lonely room known as our heads. Not much happens in “Eighth Grade” except that, for Kayla, everything does and with exclamation points."
Here is a link to the trailer for Eighth Grade
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Christopher Robin and Dog Days will open in early August
Here is a link to the trailer for Christopher Robin
Here is a link to the trailer for Dog Days
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A Perfect Vacation Choice
An excerpt from one of 51 enthusiastic reviews on Amazon for Circling the Waggins:
Echoes of Today
Traditional picture books become a gateway to the hi-tech world . . .
New Technology and Books: Inspired by her own young children growing up in an era where new readers have choices between books and digital games, Julia Turner, editor and chief of Slate, writing in the NY Times, reviews four kid's books that deal with the dilemma: Unplugged, Doll-E 1.0; Snail Mail; Blue Rider. Here is an excerpt from her article:
"Four new picture books make inventive use of that sturdy old technology (picture books) as they tell stories for kids living modern, computer-saturated childhoods. Some of these books are skeptical about the value of our wires and devices, while others embrace the possibilities change may bring."
"The love story at the heart of BLUE RIDER (by Groundwood) . . . is between a young girl and a book."
The illustration from Blue Rider is by author Geraldo Valero
Here is a link to Julia Turner's article
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Gun Violence Continues while the NRA Prevails
The Photo is of journalist John McNamara and his widowed wife, Andrea Chamblee.
"John McNamara went to work at the Annapolis Capital Gazette on a Thursday. Then a gunman walked in the door. Andrea Chamblee, his wife, writes about the shock that has followed: forgetting appointments, managing a million logistics, canceling vacations, fielding reporters’ calls and sleeping very, very little. . . ."
or made suicidal by the effects of PTSD are gradually gaining their lives back, advancing their careers, bringing their families back from the brink of collapse and divorce, and becoming emotionally available to their children again.
Why Am I ?
Why Am I ? – a joyous Yelodoggie Book – celebrates self-empowerment and the benefits of inclusion. It helps children recognize and appreciate differences and to embrace that which is unique in each of us.
Yelodoggie travels far and wide, up and down, inside and outside, from outer space to the waters of the sea –gaining confidence and leaving his insecurities behind – while seeking to answer Why Am I different ?...Why Am I Yellow ?
Why Am I ? opens the imagination and perspective of children to the world around them.
We are searching for a publisher who will love Why Am I ?, recognize its potential, and launch it into the world. This is a book for our troubled times. Our primary motive is wide distribution.
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The Planet Of The Dogs Series
The Planet of the Dogs series of children’s books tell the stories of the first time dogs came to planet Earth to teach people about unconditional loyalty and love -- and to help bring peace from invaders.
We have free reader copies of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians, teachers and independent bookstores. . . email us with a postal address at [email protected] and we will send you the books.
To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit PlanetOfTheDogs
"I love this series of books."-- Don Blankenship, Teacher and Reviewer, Good Books for Kids
The Planet Of The Dogs series (including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale) is available from many Internet sources and through independent book stores of all sizes.
The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.
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"Sir, he's a good dog, and a fair dog; can there be more said?"
William Shakespeare. The Merry Wives Of Windsor
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