The Tomten

Adapted by Astrid Lindgren

Illustrated by Harald Wiberg

Hardbound

$17.95

The Tomten is quite simply one of the best children's stories ever written. Years ago, we read this book (and it's companion, The Tomten and the Fox) to our children over and over. All of us loved it and the warmhearted magical little fellow who watches over the old farm while the people sleep. Tomtens are Swedish elemental beings who care for farms at night - and our children discovered that they also care for homes at night. When winter came with its snows, all our children started watching for Tomten tracks. Sure enough, the Tomten always came around each night! [It's amazing how much Tomten tracks look like cat and raccoon prints . . . ]

The Tomten warmed our hearts and gladdened our lives for many years - I'm sure he'll do the same for you! Ages 3-8 - and all adults!

Here is a lonely old farm where everyone is sleeping. All but one . . .

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 hundreds of winters. No one knows when he came to the farm. No one has ever seen him, but they know he is there. Sometimes when they wake up they see the prints of his feet in the snow. But no one has seen the Tomten.

- from The Tomten

The Tomten and the Fox

Adapted by Astrid Lindgren

Illustrated by Harald Wiberg

Hardbound

$17.95

This sweet, wonderful continuation of the story of the Tomten finds the Tomten not just watching over the farm, but protecting it. A hungry fox has crept into the farmyard, hoping to steal a chicken or two. None of the human beings know the fox is there . . . but the Tomten knows. In keeping the fox out of the henhouse, the Tomten shows that the best protection is compassion and kindness. He meets the fox with straightforward honesty, "You know that you're not allowed to steal our hens, don't you, Mr. Fox?", but also sees how hungry the fox is on this cold night and offers Mr. Fox some of his own porridge (left for the Tomten each night by the farm children). No longer hungry, the fox heads back to its den and the farm is safe for another night.

This is a love of a book! Ages 3-8 - and all adults!

The Tomten
and
The Tomten and the Fox

Regular Price for Both $35.90

Save when ordering together!

$31.90

The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales

Retold by Sherab Chödzin & Alexandra Kohn

Illustrated by Marie Cameron

Elegantly softbound, large format, color illustrations

$17.95

If you love a good story, you'll really enjoy this lovely collection of Buddhist tales in storybook form. The story "The Wisdom of the Crows" is very short, but I still haven't stopped thinking about its profound commentary about the uncertain nature of life. I'm sure you'll find it equally absorbing and poignant. "Goodheart and the Goddess of the Forest" is a beautiful fairy tale that combines many of the elements of European fairy tales with its own unique conclusion. And, I'm still chuckling about "Where Are You Going?" - an amusing battle of wits between two monks. There are many more stories - each one a gem.

Grandma Fina and Her Wonderful Umbrellas
La Abuelita Fina y sus sombrillas maravillosas

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Illustrated by Geronimo Garcia

Softbound

$7.95

Grandma Fina is one of those people blessed with eyes that see only what is wonderful - including the torn and tattered yellow umbrella she uses to shade herself from the sun. As she walks down the street, she greets her children and grandchildren and neighbors, who always love to stop and chat with her. But everyone of them secretly thinks that Grandma Fina's yellow umbrella is not wonderful and needs to be replaced. On her birthday, she receives a new umbrella from each of them - what will she do with so many umbrellas? The answer is a warm and joyous delight, sure to be loved in your child's mother-tongue by anyone over 4. As an early reader in Spanish as a second language, it is suitable for the second or third year. As an early reader in English as a second language, it is appropriate for the third year. A great story whenever it is read!

The Woman Who Outshone the Sun
La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol

A duel language book
From a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez

$7.95

The Woman Who Outshone the Sun is a Mexican legend of Lucia Zenteno, a beautiful woman who arrives in a mountain village with an iguana at her side and hair so glorious it outshines the sun. How the villagers react to her extraordinary presence - and how she responds to them - form this story, beautifully retold in both English and Spanish. For reading to children in their mother tongue, ages 4-5 and up. For children to practice English or Spanish as a second language, at the end of the first year of instruction to the middle of the second year.

The Story of Colors
La Historia de los Colores
a folktale in both English and Spanish from the jungles of Chiapas

Subcomandante Marcos

Illustrated by
Comitila Domínguiz

$15.95
Hardbound

Once upon a time, of course, the world was black and white with gray in between. Black and white and gray? This understandably bored and angered the gods, so they went looking for other colors to brighten the world for the people. How the gods found all the colors in the world is told in melodic Spanish and warm English, accompanied by gloriously vivid paintings. This story is a great find and will be loved by children ages 3 and up. The Spanish is complex enough to engage upper grades English speakers in a translation journey of epic proportions - some will love the challenge. For Spanish speakers, the English is at a mid-grades reading level.
A note here: I thought for a long time before including this wonderful folktale in our book shop. Not because of the folktale - it well deserves any honors we can think to heap upon it - but because it is told by the leader of the Zapatista revolutionary movement and published by the movement's supporters who make it clear on the dust jacket that they consider this civil war to be a manifestation of great goodness. I am not of the opinion that any violent revolution has ever moved the world forward very far. You may or may not think differently. Should you share my view, I would suggest simply removing the dust jacket and delighting in a very well-told version of one of the worlds best folktales.