3 of my favourite Nordic children’s books

When I took Big Girl out to buy a costume for World Book Day I was originally looking for a red dress, a big pink bow and a pointed hat. The plan was for her to be Little My from Tove Jansson’s Moomin books, which I thought would be timely because of the ongoing Adventures in Moominland experience at Southbank.

We didn’t find a red dress Big Girl wanted to wear though, and after spotting a pink and cuddly unicorn onesie, Little My was soon forgotten and Big Girl is now in school dressed up to be one of the unicorns from The Unicorns of Blossom Wood.

I still try to ensure the children know about Nordic heritage, and it struck me today that there are many books by Nordic authors that are well known in the UK too. Here are three from my own list of favourites that are all available from Amazon in English:

Karius and Baktus by Thorbjoern Egner
The Norwegian classic children’s book Karius and Baktus tells the story of two trolls who live in a little boy’s mouth. They thrive on the fact that the boy is terrible at brushing his teeth, and they build houses in his teeth. Having grown up with this book, I think it is good for introducing the concept of oral hygiene and the risk of getting cavities to young children, and it’s one I read to Big Girl now.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
When we first started reading about Pippi Longstocking to Big Girl I was a bit worried Pippi wasn’t exactly setting a great example of following rules and conventional behaviour, but the Swedish children’s classic Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren is all about having fun and being playful. I’m not surprised she’s one of the most loved children’s book characters of all times, and I’m sure the books will have encouraged many children to read. Other Lindgren favourites include Emil and Karlson on the Roof.

Moomin by Tove Jansson
Whether you’re looking for a lift-the-flap book for a toddler or a storybook for a school-age child, Tove Jansson’s books about the charming Moomin family offers sweet books that can transport readers to a fantasy world. Big Girl loved the film about the Moomins on the Riviera, which was released a few years back, and we continue to adore everything Moomin.

Happy World Book Day!

Tags: Astrid Lindgren, Moomin, Pippi Longstocking, Thorbjoern Egner, Tove Jansson, World Book Day