Ghindoc, Lina si Samburel

Ghindoc and Samburel are two playful acorn boys. They live with their family in an oak tree. One autumn day, they set out to gather acorns. They have promised their mother to help store food for winter. A strong wind rises, and they climb onto a huge leaf. It takes them far from home, into strange woods.

This fantasy tale for children follows their trip. They face danger and find help on the way. The forest folk care for each other in times of trouble. Elf aunts wash the beards of trolls. Friends mend things and make up games and tales. The tale has a happy end: a feast that fireflies light. The guests share hazelnuts that ripened in the sun. They drink rosehip juice.

Elsa Beskow (1874–1953) was a Swedish writer who also drew pictures. Her stories blend daily life with fairies, elves and trolls. They have talking animals, too. She drew on her family, her life and places near her. She lived in an old wooden house near Stockholm. A large garden lay around it, with woods close by. Swedish children have read her books for more than a century. For fifty years, her art shaped Swedish books for children. It also inspired other artists. In 1952, Sweden gave her the Nils Holgersson Plaque. This award honoured her life’s work.

This edition has colour pictures. Andreea Caleman translated the text from Swedish. She also adapted it into prose.