An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales - by Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Travel to the snowy forests of Lapland in this warm and witty storybook with beautiful illustrations - perfect for sharing and reading aloud.

Classic characters of Nordic folklore - cunning Fox, gullible Wolf, clever Hare and powerful Bear - star in these lively stories of mischief and fun. Readers will discover why Bear is ruler of the northern forests, how Fox outwitted Wolf, and what Hare did to earn her fluffy white tail.

In this stunning storybook, renowned Finnish author-illustrator Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin retells twenty-six of her favorite traditional animal tales, illustrated with intricate and characterful artwork. An ideal gift book, An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales features foil details, luxury paper and a ribbon marker. Readers of all ages will find themselves drawn into the warm and funny stories which are sprinkled with the magic of Nordic culture.

Review Quotes

'The lighthearted, humorous, and wise tales in this well-written Finnish import are narrated in breezy, conversational tones... Characters are individualized and well realized and have loads of personality; the dialogue-heavy tales are fast-paced and capably convey characters' quirky temperaments... The illustrations, created with plant-based watercolors and ink pen, are lovely. The delicate yet lush, textured, detailed artwork captures the naturalistic-looking animal characters... These stories are such fun readers will race through this anthology.' --Kirkus Reviews

'With large font and full-page illustrations, these lively stories are perfect for newly confident readers to read by themselves, but Nordic Animal Tales is also a lovely book to read aloud with younger children.' --Five Books

'The stories are steeped in traditional rural life, which is depicted beautifully in the intricate and authentic illustrations. The collection is perfect for reading with children. While the tales stand alone, there is a narrative thread that runs through them and it is satisfying to read each one in turn and to be absorbed in the magic of Nordic culture.' --Juno Magazine

'Beautifully illustrated throughout and exceptionally well written, "An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales" will prove to be an enduringly popular and entertaining addition to personal, family, elementary school, and community library collections.' --Midwest Book Review

Praise for Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin:

'In this charming storybook a mother and daughter team have painted a captivating picture of the landscape, wildlife and folklore of Finland.' --Midwest Book Review on Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas

'A hoot of a bedtime treat.' --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review on Olwen Finds her Wings

About the Author

Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin is a Finnish illustrator, renowned for her delicate, detailed portrayals of Finland's wildlife and folklore. She is the illustrator of Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas and Olwen Finds her Wings, co-created with her daughter Nora, and An Illustrated Kalevala. Jill Timbers is a Finnish-English translator based in Normal, Illinois. Originally from Pennsylvania, Timbers followed a fascination with languages to Finland, where she fell in love with the country. Her literary translations include Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas and An Illustrated Collection of Nordic Animal Tales.