Rural Route Bookstore - Children's Books

Books about Farm Life, Small Town Life, the Midwest, and Scandinavian-Americans

Featuring the Heartwarming Humor of "Those Lutheran Ladies"

Children's Books

More children's books are also found in the Cookbook section.

Scandinavian-American Folk Tales ... and Fish Stories -- by Dr. Kristoffer Paulson
Read a brief description and history of the stories in this book by Dr. Paulson

Rural Route Bookstore is the only distributor of this book in the United States.

CH - 27 $16.95

Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Perhaps this shouldn't be listed as a cookbook, but the young child who receives this book will learn not only how to make rolled Christmas cookies and the joy of decorating them, but will learn about the importance of holiday traditions and sharing as well. This book — listed for "all ages," but geared to children ages four to eight — is really a glossary that teaches the meaning of "big" words (charitable, appreciative, responsible, celebrate, selfish, gracious) and how these words are applied to fulfilling the spirit of the holidays.

Jane Dyer, who has teamed up with Rosenthal in previous books, has delightfully illustrated each page in watercolor paintings with the focus on home, the kitchen, winter and the holidays.

CR - 5 Hardcover $12.99

An Ellis Island Christmas by Maxinne Rhea Leighton

Although this children's book isn't about Scandinavian immigration, the circumstances — the long voyage, fear of the unknown, and reluctance to leave everything familiar — that Krysia, a young Polish girl, goes through are perhaps universal.

Two things make this book special: the beautiful and captivating artwork by Dennis Nolan that evokes the uncertainty, wonder and dreams felt by many young immigrants, and the fact that it is on Christmas Eve that Krysia spots the Statue of Liberty and realizes that this may be one of many great holidays in a New World. This book can easily be placed on the shelf with the holiday stories families come to treasure year after year.

Recommended for ages 5 and up by the publishers, and recommended by this Web site's owner that it be read to children by grandparents or great-grandparents who can steal some quality time to tell another generation stories about their ancestors, embellished or not!

CH - 40 Paperback $6.99

Christmas in Noisy Village   by Astrid Lindgren and Ilon Wikland

Beginning in 1939, Lindgren —Sweden's beloved children's author — began writing books for young people, and her final two books were published posthumously in 2002, the year she died at age 94, and in 2007. Well, maybe these aren't her final books; In January 2008, the national Library of Sweden inaugurated the Astrid Lindgren Archive and opened parts of it to the public, and other manuscripts may be developed.

In her almost 70 years of writing, she had composed over 100 books that have been translated into 84 languages to date and sold in over 100 countries. Many were made into movies, and her most famous character was, of course, "Pippi Longstocking". In 1999, her homeland voted her "the most popular Swede of the century", a theme park in her hometown of Vimmerby bears her name, "Astrid Lindgren's Varld", and in the late 70s a Soviet astronomer even named a new minor planet after her.

According to Lindgren, the "noisy village," a recurring location in some stories, was reminiscent of the small town where she grew up, and the boyish unkempt behavior of characters like Pippi was based on Lindgren's recollections of herself as a young girl.

(ages 3 to 8) CH - 37    Paperback $6.99

The Children of Noisy Village   by Astrid Lindgren and Ilon Wikland

Beginning in 1939, Lindgren —Sweden's beloved children's author — began writing books for young people, and her final two books were published posthumously in 2002, the year she died at age 94, and in 2007. Well, maybe these aren't her final books; In January 2008, the national Library of Sweden inaugurated the Astrid Lindgren Archive and opened parts of it to the public, and other manuscripts may be developed.

In her almost 70 years of writing, she had composed over 100 books that have been translated into 84 languages to date and sold in over 100 countries. Many were made into movies, and her most famous character was, of course, "Pippi Longstocking". In 1999, her homeland voted her "the most popular Swede of the century", a theme park in her hometown of Vimmerby bears her name, "Astrid Lindgren's Varld", and in the late 70s a Soviet astronomer even named a new minor planet after her.
According to Lindgren, the "noisy village," a recurring location in some stories, was reminiscent of the small town where she grew up, and the boyish unkempt behavior of characters like Pippi was based on Lindgren's recollections of herself as a young girl.

(ages 8 to 12) CH - 38    Paperback $5.99

The Visit: The Origin of The Night Before Christmas Written by Mark K. Moulton as told by Dinghy Sharp, great-great-granddaughter of
Clement Moore
Illustrations by Susan Winget

Dinghy Sharp, a direct descendant Clement Clarke Moore who created the classic poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas," relates the history of the writing of the poem as passed down through the generations in her family.

Writing in the same bouncy, anapestic meter that Moore used in the 1822 poem, Moulton takes Sharp's story and shapes it into a delightful companion work to the original poem; "I shall start out this tale with some little-known facts that have long been forgotten or slipped through the cracks." This wonderful 56-page book is accompanied by the detailed illustrations of Winget, a nationally renowned artist whose work conveys a true historical sense of time and place, and even includes a reproduction of Moore's poem in his beautiful handwriting. Great for parents and grandparents to read to the young. Ages 9 to 12.

CH - 29 Hardcover (padded) $14.95

Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett

Now affordable as a paperback, this book is worth every penny just for the colorful and magical artwork by popular children's author and illustrator, Jan Brett.

As Treva and her family prepare for Christmas, their favorite decorations and the Christmas pudding disappear. Eventually Treva finds the culprits—two trolls who think they can steal Christmas. She shows these irresistible trolls how to truly have Christmas. Little children will learn about sharing and giving, and all readers will be enchanted -- once more -- by the Scandinavian folk details in Brett's bright, crisply defined art. Pay attention to the page borders where the trolls' charming pet hedgehogs are busy with their own Christmas activities.

CH - 26 Paperback $6.99

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

This appealing story is influenced by Scandinavian folklore. The trolls who live on Mt. Baldy really, really want a dog, and Treva — the character in several of Brett's books — has a dog she loves dearly named Tuffi. When Treva and Tuffi go walking to visit a cousin, the trouble begins and Treva must think fast and be clever enough to outwit five trolls. There are even twin trolls in this story!

Like Brett's Christmas Trolls, and all the books Brett has written &/or illustrated, it is the detailed colorful artwork — Brett's trademark — that really stands out, and she carries it through from action that happens underground to the very top of the mountain. Don't forget to look for, and follow, the mysterious, curious hedgehog. What is he up to and why is he on the mountain?

Although the book is rated for ages 3 or 4 to 8, I am giving this to both of my two-year-old grandchildren. They will make a big game of trying to spot that silly (but helpful) hedgehog! Do you adults know how hard it is to find a little hedgehog in detailed art work?

CH - 36 Paperback $6.99

The Fiddler of the Northern Lights by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Illustrations by Leslie W. Bowman

While the fiddling, Northern Lights, ice skating, dancing and the artwork in this book are reminiscent of stories about Northern Norway and about immigrant life in the northern states, this pleasant tale takes place in Quebec.

And like grandfathers world-over, the grandfather in this book has many magical stories to tell, and young Henry is not sure which of Grandfather Pepin's stories are true and which are make-believe. However, it doesn't matter a lot to Henry and the grandfather-grandson bond is strong. Beautiful illustrations and the sense of mystery and wonder created by the story easily capture the attention of youngsters. For ages 5 to 10; 32 pages.

CH - 30 Hardcover $16.99

East by Edith Pattou

This new release is a rather massive publication (507 pages) which will
provide nightly reading throughout the winter for those ages 12 and older.

Several centuries ago in the rural parts of Norway there was a superstitious belief that children would inherit the qualities of the direction in which they were born. East is about Rose, the youngest of eight, who was a North-born baby. Legend held that North-born babies, although intelligent, would be wild and adventurous and bound to break their mothers' hearts.

This new publication is roughly based on the old Norwegian fairy tale East of
the Sun and West of the Moon which was one of the many folk tales Asbjørnsen and Moe (often
called the Brothers Grimm of Scandinavia) committed to writing in the late 1800s to preserve the
rich oral tradition of Norway. This same original tale in Sweden is called Prince Hat under the Ground, and variations of the same themes —beasts, bears, brave daughters, greedy fathers, trolls, castles and poison — are found in the folk tales of many countries throughout the world.

Pattou has written a compelling novel based on old themes that has been called a page-turner,
"a worthy retelling" of this folk tale, "compelling" and a book that "really stands out." It has received seven national book awards including several from the American Library Association.

CH - 31 Paperback $8.95

Hans Brinker as retold by Bruce Coville; Illustrations by Laurel Long

Hans Brinker, sometimes titled 'The Silver Skates,' is a novel by Mary Mapes
Dodge written in 1865 about Hans and Gretel Brinker, two very poor children in Holland. The book was a classic in American schools for generations, but has been neglected of late. Coville and Long decided that the story had a lot to offer today's youth, but that it could be done in a simpler form with Long's luminous paintings to illustrate the historical and geographical content. Along with maintaining the theme of a family struggling against great odds, it was Colville's intention to also introduce today's young readers to the good character of Hans. As Colville writes, "In our cynical age the boy seems almost too good to be true. But the fact is that the hearts of children yearn for such goodness, yearn for role models." Colville feels that Brinker's story and character serve this need for today's young people.

This 40-page book, geared to readers ages 9 to 12, is a precious look at a time long gone, but one that offers hope for the current and future generations. It remains a classic.

CH - 32 Hardcover      $16.99


Immigration and Pioneer Stories

Elin's Amerika by Marguerite de Angeli

Unlike other Children's and Young Adult books about Immigration, this one is not about life on the prairies or in Chicago's ethnic ghettos of that era. This is 99-page book is the only one I have seen that shares a child's view of life in New Sweden, the first colony in the New World where the earliest, most adventurous Scandinavian settlers lived.

This experimental colony was founded in 1638 and located in the triangle area along the Delaware River which today is bordered by Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Inhabitants were a mixture of Swedes, Finns, Lenape, Minquas (Susquehannock), Dutch and British people. Twelve expeditions of ships brought settlers and supplies from Sweden to this colony between 1638 and 1655, when it was taken over by the Dutch and nine years later by the British.

Originally published in 1941, American Swedish groups received foundation dollars and donations to reproduce this book in 2007 so that it could include research that has come to light since Newbery Away-winning author de Angeli wrote the first version.

This nicely illustrated book, in both colored paintings and black and white sketches, tells the story of Elin and her family and the adventures and adversity they experience. Appropriate for ages 8 to 12, the story focuses on Elin, who has been thrust into this foreign place and, like children all over the world in all eras, longs most for a playmate from back home.

CH - 34 Paperback $15.99

The Memory Quilt: A Tale of Friends & Family Lost & Found in the Great Cloquet Fire of 1918 by Pamela J. Erickson

History and fiction are combined in this exciting account of the catastrophic Cloquet Fire. Fourteen-year-old Lisa Hanson falls asleep in present day Cloquet and is mysteriously transported to Cloquet on the day of the fire. Everyone there thinks she is Liisa Maki, her grandma's oldest sister who disappeared that day and was never heard of again. By the end of her eye-opening journey into the past, Lisa solves the mystery of her missing great aunt.

FN - 02 Paperback $9.95

Dandelions by Eve Bunting; illus. by Greg Shed

Bluestem by Frances Arrington

A Bride for Anna's Papa by Isabel Marvin

A story about Finnish Immigrants on Minnesota's Iron Range in 1907. Thirteen-year-old Anna Kallio is forced to leave school to keep house for her father and younger brother after her mother dies. Anna and her brother conspire to find a wife for their father so Anna can return to school--even if it means a mail-order bride from Finland! This children's novel contains almost all of the crises common to immigrant life, and serves as a great introduction to the study of immigration and to Finnish-American customs. Ages 8-12.

FN - 19 Paperback $6.95

Viking Stories

Who Were the Vikings? by Jane Chisholm and Struan Reid

A 32-page, fact-filled paperback with colorful sketches of the Viking life including homes, dress, ships, gods, games and alphabet. The facts are made more interesting with the addition of specific addresses to Usborne Web links that lead the reader to even more information, pictures, puzzles and games. Written for children and frequently used by adults.

V2 - 01 Paperback $4.95

Vikings: The Book and CD That Work Together by Interfact

Can you write in "runes"? Have you explored a Viking village? Have you ever played Viking games? This Interfact set gives you a chance to do these things and more, and it's a great way to learn. The CD ROM has 15 hours of activities, games and on-screen adventures and runs on both PCs with Windows and Apple Macintosh. The book is loaded with more fascinating information and highlighted with lots of full-color illustrations and photos.
For ages 7-12.
V2 - 02 $14.95

The Viking Explorers by Jim Gallagher We have two new copies, but this excellent book is now out of print with no plans to republish it.

A well-written, easy-to-read history of the explorations and discoveries of the Vikings from the 8th to 13th centuries supplemented with full-color illustrations and paintings, maps, index, a clear timeline and list of other references. This juvenile non-fiction book is part of the Explorers of New Worlds series.
For ages 8-13, for grades 4-8.

V2 - 03 $8.95

Vikings: My World by Peter Chrisp

Thora, a girl living in Orkney off the coast of Scotland in the year 942, invites the reader to explore her world through crafts, activities, stories, and historical facts. Directions for activities such as making jewelry, an antler comb or a Viking ball make this book great for class projects or at-home pretending. Photographs of Thora and her brother, Erik, and their friend, Deirdre, in costume help bring the past alive and make learning history very interesting. For ages 7-10.

V2 - 04 Hardcover $14.95

General

Scandinavian Girl and Boy Paper Dolls by Kathy Allert

In addition to four Swedish costumes and four Norwegian "bunader," the two paper dolls -- Karen and Lars-Erik -- have eight more colorful Scandinavian costumes to choose from including ones from Finland, Lappland, Denmark, Iceland and Greenland. Ages 3 - 10.

CH - 6 $3.95

Norway: A Coloring & Activity Book by Kirsten Sevig

This is a Coloring Book Plus. This fun 48 page book which includes great tidbits about Norwegian crafts, recipes, songs, and traditions is a great introduction to Norway. Children (and adults) can color images of Norway's fjords, farms, costumes, towns, vikings, and trolls and learn about holidays, "rosemaling," goat cheese and stave churches at the same time. Ages 5 - 12.

CH - 4 $7.95

Sweden Coloring Book Sweden: A Coloring & Activity Book by Kirsten Sevig

Just like the Norway Coloring Book , this too, is a Coloring Book Plus. These fun filled 48 pages subtly teach about special Swedish crafts, recipes, songs, holidays, folklore and traditions. As children color pictures of Sweden's castles, its countryside and costumes, they'll be learning about Dala horses, folk instruments, the Maypole, Sankta Lucia and the Sami. Ages 5 - 12.

CH - 5 $7.95

Denmark: A Coloring & Activity Book by Kirsten Sevig

New to the Sevig's Scandinavian coloring book collection is the Denmark book. Like the other two, this is more than a coloring book. Forty-eight fun-filled pages offer crafts, recipes, songs, city and country scenes including windmills, and great coloring pages that teach about the traditions and holidays in Denmark.
Ages 5 - 12.

CH - 16 $7.95

Finland: A Coloring & Activity Book by Kirsten Sevig

This is the fourth coloring and activity book on the Scandinavian countries that Kirsten has designed. This book, enjoyed by teachers as much as young people, contains pages for coloring, an easy-to-read map, simple Finnish crafts, recipes, songs and traditions. From castles to caribou, folk art designs to Finnish costumes, young and old alike will enjoy this 48-page book teaches a few fun Finnish words as well as the address of where to mail Santa Claus a letter if you live in Finland.

CH - 33 $7.95

The Emperor's New Clothes

The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen

A story loved by generations and written by Denmark's beloved Hans Christian Andersen, this story points out how adults are easily swayed by their leaders and need the innocence and honesty of children to point out the truth. This version is delightfully illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton, a well-known artist in her own right. Ages 5 & up. 44 pages.

CH - 11 Paperback $6.95

The Snow Queen The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen

When the cold-hearted Snow Queen abducts her dear friend, Gerda sets out on a perilous and magical journey to find him and try to free him from the Snow Queen's dreadful spell. One of Andersen's best-beloved tales, The Snow Queen is a story about the strength and endurance of childhood friendship and, as in many of Andersen's stories, good triumphs over evil.

Anderson began writing The Snow Queen on December 5, 1844, and it was published sixteen days later in book form! Andersen's stories have been translated into more than 100 languages and some, such as The Little Mermaid, have been made into movies. This particular 64-page edition is retelling by Lesley Sims, and has colorful illustrations Alan Marks.

CH - 12 Hardcover $8.95

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

A story of courage and adventure about Peter and his young friends who have key roles in a dangerous plan to get Norway's gold out of the country during WW II. Recently reissued, many American adults will recall reading this story in grade school in the '50s, and cheering when the children hid the gold in their snowsuits and went sliding past the Nazi officers and down to a ship which safely transported the gold out of Norway and out of danger.

CHW - 02 Paperback $4.50

Erling Rolfsrud's seven Pioneer Stories are also appropriate reading for young adults. Children who are interested in learning words in Norwegian or Swedish should check out the illustrated dictionaries here.

Order by using the 'Place an Order' form or you may order by phone (800 494-9124). For payment and shipping charges, see 'Place an Order.'

Scandinavian-American and Rural Humor Books

Dandelions by Eve Bunting; illus. by Greg Shed

Bluestem by Frances Arrington