Vintage. Swedish. Picture Books. Need I Say More?

Here I am with another little batch of goodies for you. I know I say this every single time I write about books, but these really are my favorite! Just look at all these illustrations...what's not to love? Maybe it's because my heritage is mostly Norwegian and Swedish, so these have a special meaning for me, but I think they would still be my favorite no matter where my grandparents came from.

Okay, so first I want to tell you about this very talented Swedish author/illustrator named Elsa Beskow. Her books are about 100 years old now, and {lucky for us} translated into English, and still in print. I have four of her books in my collection, but I hope to have all of them one day {in case you were wondering what to get me for Christmas!}.

Peter in Blueberry Land comes in this hardcover mini edition, with embossed gold lettering and blue linen along the spine. And for the price it is a real treasure if you ask me. It's the story of a boy who magically becomes small and visits the tiny folk of Blueberry Land. While he's there, they help him find the perfect birthday gift for his mother. This little Peterdoll is so cute too, and I think it would be a fun Christmas gift along with the book, don't you?

Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip is so beautiful, I use it as a fall decoration! Such a charming little story too, all about the adventures of the woodland people in autumn. I love how all of Elsa Beskow's books include the linen spine with embossed lettering. I promise you will not be disappointed with any of her books. The vintage illustrations alone make me happy!

I love Pelle's New Suit, and Peter and Lotta's Christmas too. Just so you know.

Side note: My in-laws went to Sweden this summer, and my mother-in-law knows how much I love Elsa Beskow. She found this Elsa Beskow baby dish set there and brought it back for me! Isn't that just the cutest thing ever?

I recently discovered another vintage author/illustrator name Maj Lindman. Her books are not quite as old, more from the 1950's, but just so cute. Check out Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka, the Swedish triplet girls, and Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr, the Swedish triplet boys. I know, the names are ridiculous, but the books really are fun to look at. There are several of these books in the series, so make sure you see them all!

One last thing...you need to read There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, since Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Too funny! Your kids will get a kick out of it, and so will you as you stuff in just one more piece of pie.