The Beautiful, Frozen World of Hans Brinker (From the Hand of Gifted Artist, Laurel Long!)

I've got another beautiful picture book to add to my list of winter reads: Hans Brinker, (2007) retold by Bruce Coville, illustrated by Laurel Long. 

This is an adapted and obviously very abridged version of the 1865 classic children's novel Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge. 

Mary Mapes Dodge's enthusiastically interwoven little explanations and asides about Dutch history and culture throughout her original story captivated children when it was published.

Homeschoolers and children who love getting lost in a good book will still enjoy the lengthy, didactic original, but these days, not all kids may appreciate such an "armchair travel" type book.  

As Bruce Corville, author and adapter of the newer version, points out in the "Note" at the end of his picture book:

"the Internet now offers so many ways to learn about a place like Holland...underneath the book's wealth of social, geographical, and historical data pulses a charming and quite moving story about a family struggling to thrive against great odds. It is this story that Laurel Long and I have tried to bring to the forefront of our adaptation."  

Corville's abridged adaptation definitely loses the charm of Mary Mapes Dodge's descriptive and adept story telling, but Laurel Long's stunning illustrations make up for it in that they help you see the charm and beauty of the missing text! 

Long's radiant, detailed paintings that illustrate this book are not to be missed.  They remind me of those you'd see on traditional Russian lacquer boxes...

Set against a backdrop of frozen canals, this beloved tale is about how 15 year old Hans Brinker - a most honorable hero - and his younger sister Gretel long to compete in their Dutch village's most exciting event of the year: the great ice-skating race!  

Such lovely endcovers of blue delft!

Just like my blue delft plate!

The Brinkers are poor. With their hand-carved wooden skates, the brother and sister don't seem to have a chance against their well-trained friends, who own steel blades. The prize for the winners of the race?  Silver Skates, of course. 

The conflict?  The reason Hans' family is poverty stricken is that the father, "Raff" Brinker, is sick and has amnesia from a head injury caused by a fall from the dike, and cannot remember or communicate where he has hidden their savings.  (By the way, in the M.M. Dodge original story, Raff is prone to quite violent outbursts - lots of Victorian Era drama there!)

Hans, Gretel, and their mother must work very hard to make up for their incapacitated father's lost job and wages. They are looked down on by most of their community, but luckily a kind doctor enters their lives...

I hope you'll read this truly heart-warming story with your kids - either version - you may be surprised at who wins the race!  (I absolutely love the original story by Mary Mapes Dodge, and treasure my 1926 vintage copy.  You can read it here, on Project Gutenberg.)

Best for ages 8 and up.

A Snowy Book That Will Warm Your Heart

It never fails.

The rest of the U.S. seems to be under piles of snow - while here in Southern California the Santa Ana Winds kick up and we get 80-degree temperatures!

 Growing up in Illinois and then Tennessee, I know how challenging everyday life can be with all that comes with snow and ice, but I do love it!

So I'm going to the snow today!  

As scheduled, with the sun shining brightly out my window and an 80-degree (now gentle) wind blowing, I'm typing up this post about an enchanting story, When It Snows, the debut picture book (new for the U.S. this year) from British artist, Richard Collingridge. For ages 2-6.

A little boy and his teddy bear go on an adventure.  Follow them through this book to experience the magic that happens "when it snows"...

The boy travels to some wondrous places, and the "Queen of Poles" even takes him to the North Pole (note: this book is really more about snow than Christmas). 

The story and illustrations are very dreamlike, and in the end the boy (along with the child reading the book) realizes he can go there everyday...

Go here for my other posts of favorite "snow books".

Speaking of Norway - While You Wait For My Giveaway - Two Books By Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, Not To Be Missed!

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If you saw my last post, you already know that tomorrow I'm giving away a very unique and special children's book, The Christmas Wish, by husband and wife team Lori Evert (author) and Per Breiehagen (Photographer), starring their daughter, Anja, who portrays a little girl in Norway who wants to help Santa deliver presents.

Well, while you're waiting (and so you can leave more comments to enter my GIVEAWAYover - as many times as you'd like - here, or on my Facebook link), today I thought I'd tell you about two more wonderful Norwegian stories by another husband/wife team, Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.  

I promise you that both of their books will make you feel like you've stepped into a Norway of the past!

The first charming book, first published in 1932, is about a boy named OLA.  (I am lucky enough to own a copy published in 1939).

 

Ola is the enchanting story of a dauntless Norwegian boy who goes skiing one day and has many unusual adventures before returning home. He meets new friends, joins a merry wedding party, encounters a howling dragon, and learns bits of folklore from fishermen in the far north while pulling codfish from the icy waters. 

My favorite page

 The second book, Children of the Northlights was first published in 1935.

Children of the Northlights introduces readers to siblings Lise and Lasse and to the captivating Sami (also known as "Lapp") people and culture of northern Scandinavia. At times mischievous and at others quite courageous, Lisa and Lasse, and their Sami culture, are brought brilliantly to life in the d’Aulaires’ illustrations.

 

Inspired directly by a remarkable journey the d’Aulaires took to northern Europe and their time spent among the Sami, Children of the Northlights is a brightly illustrated portrait and celebration of the Sami people, culture, and snow-covered landscapes of the frozen north.

GIVEAWAY for "The Christmas Wish" book ENDS TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. Winner announced tomorrow, 12/17/13. Be sure to leave a comment 1) here, 2) on my Facebook post link, or 3) on yesterday's blog post to enter my Giveaway.  I've been asked if this giveaway is open to my readers outside of the U.S.  There don't seem to be Media Mail rates internationally, so I'm sad to say I'll have to limit my giveaway to those of you here in the U.S.