THE TOMTEN
by Astrid Lindgren & illustrated by Harald Wiberg
Who is it that wanders the countryside on a snowy peaceful night in winter? It is the Tomten, a kindly whitebearded troll who whispers the promise of spring to all the animals in the farmyard. Too bad only animals, not children, can understand Tomten language, for the little troll cannot communicate his message to the sleeping inhabitants of the farmhouse. That's all there is to it — yet the story's fascination is as surely felt as the secret words whispered by the Tomten, largely because of Harald Wiberg's darkly luminous rendition of a tranquil snowy farm with its one wakeful visitor. A reassuring bedtime treat with room for creative fantasy when the lights are dimmed. Adapted from an old Swedish poem.