ELSA BESKOW: A SWEDISH ILLUSTRATOR

Cover of a Swedish school reader, Vill du läsa? (Do You Want to Read?)

Autumn is officially here, and what better illustration to post than this beautiful offering by one of my favorite children's book illustrators than Elsa Beskow (1874-1953).

In 1894 Beskow started to contribute to the Swedish children's magazine Jultomten. She went on to publish forty children's books with her own text and images. In her books Beskow used her own childhood experiences as a source for ideas. Her six children also inspired her work. Many of her books focus on nature, the relationships between children and adults, and children's independent initiative. She frequently combined reality with elements from the fairy tale world. In her stories and artwork, children meet elves, goblins, or fairies, and farm animals who can talk with people.

From Peter in Blueberry Land

Elsa Beskow is one of the most well known of all Swedish children's book artists (she's been called the "Beatrix Potter of Scandinavia"). Many of her books became classics and are continually reprinted. Beskow also illustrated ABC books and songbooks for Swedish schools. Her beautiful book pages are often bordered by decorative framework of the Art Nouveau style.

From Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS BY ELSA BESKOW:

AROUND THE YEAR - Delightful verses and delicate, playful illustrations that take young children through the special joys of each month of the year, from icy February to the green shoots of April, the red poppies of July, September’s apples, and the delights of December.

CHILDREN OF THE FOREST - Deep in the roots of an old pine tree live the children of the forest. Playing hide-and-seek with the squirrels, and snowballing in winter, each season brings its own adventures.

PELLE'S NEW SUIT - Pelle shears his lamb and gets the wool carded, spun, dyed, woven and made into a fine new suit.

PETER IN BLUEBERRY LAND - Peter is looking for blueberries for his mother’s birthday and he can’t find a single one. Suddenly he feels a light tap on his shoe, and a strange and magical adventure is about to begin.

WOODY, HAZEL AND LITTLE PIP - Woody and Little Pip Acorn have an unexpected adventure when they take a ride on an oak leaf. Mr. Squirrel and their friend sweet little Hazel Hazelnut go searching for the acorn boys, and they meet gnomes, trolls, a salamander and other woodland creatures along the way. A wonderful, fun story with beautiful illustrations that capture children's imaginations beautifully.

Just a few more days to enter my SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!  Bob Books SIGHT WORDS set for Kindergarten and First Grade is the gift.  To enter, leave a comment, start following my blog, or "like" my Facebook page by September 29th.  Winner will be announced on September 30, 2011.  CLICK HERE for more info. CONTEST OVER.