This review of Findus and the Christmas Tomte by Sven Nordqvist appeared on the Outside In World website.
Snow is falling on Pettson’s farm, and Christmas is approaching. Findus pesters Pettson, he wants to know all about the Yule Tomte. Pettson patiently explains how Findus will need to make a list of all the presents he wants on a piece of paper and then put it in a snowball. In the evening Findus will have to make a snow lantern in the yard and put the snowball with the list on top. Findus struggles to think of what he would like – perhaps another ski as Pettson has only managed to finish one but then he decides the only present he wants is to see the Yule Tomte and if he doesn’t get to see him then he will never like Christmas again. What is Pettson to do? On top of that Pettson only has 24 days to come up with a solution.
In Sweden it is not Father Christmas who brings children their Christmas presents but the Yule Tomte. Sometimes seen riding on a goat, the Tomte prefers to deliver presents after dinner on Christmas Eve.
All the usual magic of the Findus series and more is contained here in this longer story book by Swedish author/illustrator Sven Nordqvist, translated by Nathan Large. With 17 chapters and over 130 pages there is plenty of comedy with the lovable duo, following their antics, eccentricities and humorous conversations which all provides plenty of entertainment together with the captivating and expressive illustrations.
Other titles published in English by Hawthorn Press in the Findus series include: Findus and the Fox, Findus at Christmas, Findus, Food and Fun, Findus Goes Camping, Findus Goes Fishing, Findus Moves Out, Findus Plants Meatballs, Pancakes for Findus, When Findus was Little and Disappeared and Keeping Up With Findus.
