Swedish Folk Tales Hardcover – Picture Book, 26 Aug. 2004

The stories are not ones that you'll know, but they are funny, and moving, and often mysterious. Some of them come from folktales - but not directly - and some of them have a bit of morality, but not too much. And the pictures by John Bauer, who died young and tragically with his wife and child in a ferry accident, conjure up a world of magic that is only just up the track from the cabin in the woods. All these stories, and their authors, should be much better known than they are!As a storyteller in various story-clubs I am always on the look-out for fresh material - and this book is just the job!

The stories are lovely and John Bauer’s pictures are breathtaking. Together they are magical. It is a nicely bound chunky book so the pictures are a good size. I have seen a lot of John Bauer’s work and I have the tarot cards that have been made from his art. Compared to those the colours in some of the pictures are rather muddy. Not all of them which is rather odd. Perhaps the others I have seen have been colorised and these are the original almost monochrome in some cases. See pics. The first golden key picture is from the internet, the other is this book. Still very atmospheric, Earthy and metaphysical. Great for children and anyone with a sense of wonder and imagination. A wonderful gift. To myself!

As a swede in exile i wanted to get some proper swedish troll books for my little girl. This certainly does not disappoint.

A Fabulous book that arrived within a couple of days of ordering! I must admit I ordered it as much for myself as for my children to enjoy! Found entirely by chance (a link to Brian Froud stuff I'd been looking at) - I can't believe I had never before heard of the illustrator John Bauer. His work is amazing in style and colour choices - I cannot imagine anyone drawing anything more apt for these wonderful stories of trolls, royalty, adventure and dark forests. The stories made me immediately look for Jim Henson's series The Storyteller. If you admire the work of any of the aforementioned names, or just enjoy a good old-fashioned faerie tale and quirky, almost eerie, but fantastically detailed and atmospheric illustration, then this book is a MUST for your collection!

This is an excellent edition to my folklore library, it always amazes me how the various peoples of the world have great imaginations to come up with these tales. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in folklore, trolls etc. Regards D Sutton

Such nostalgia, and I could share it with my English family. Very pretty.

Really lovely book beautiful illustrations and charming stories. The sort of book that will be cherished and handed down over the years.

I bought this for the illustrations and fell for the stories. I don’t feel he is as good as Rackham or Potter but he does have a charm of his own. Lovely book for an adult or child’s library heavy on heavenly illustrations.