Product Description

Six-year-old Ollie is given his first pair of real skis. As soon as the snow begins to fall he sets off on an adventure by himself to the palace of King Winter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92646 in Books
• Published on: 1989-09
• Original language: Swedish
• Binding: Hardcover
• 30 pages

Review
'Ollie has an adventure in the snowy forest on his skis meeting Jack Frost and King Winter, who shows Ollie his Ice Palace where all the Christmas presents are made. Ollie plays on his toboggan until Mrs Thaw comes with her broom, to sweep away the snow and make way for Spring, on her chariot pulled by butterflies. A beautiful, seasonal tale suitable for 3-7 year olds.' -- Hilary Woolf with Isaac, age 4, Education Otherwise, December 2004

About the Author
Elsa Beskow's picture books for children have been known and loved for over a century.

Customer Reviews

Enchanting tale!
This enchanting little tale of how Ollie spends his sixth birthday with his first pair of proper skis is a delight for all ages. In the glittering white forest of snow and ice, he meets Jack Frost, is taken to see King Winter, and eventually comes to realise what an important job Mrs Thaw has to do, to make the earth ready for Spring. A great story, with lots of lovely pen and ink drawings, with colour and subtle watercolour skies. Well worth the money!

A true classic!
I have just discovered Elsa Beskow for my 4-year old and can't get enough of her books. The story line is quite simple - Ollie, a little Swedish boy, receives a pair of skis for his birthday and can't wait to try them out. Finally, it snows and he goes out into the woods and meets Jack Frost who makes sure that the snow in the forest is intact and that Mrs Thaw (who tends to appear in the middle of the winter) is not spoiling the beauty of the winter. Jack Frost then invites the boy to meet King Winter at his snow palace. Ollie has fun with the boys and girls of the court skiing, skating and tobogganing. When it's time to go home, a beautiful reindeer takes Ollie back to his family.

It was a long winter that year but finally spring came and Ollie learned about importance of Mrs Thaw's job - she'd been clearing the way for Spring and the new flowers, grass and crops which she brought with her.

If you are looking for a book with an important moral lesson - this is definitely not the one for you. This book is about beauty and importance of different seasons which tastefully blends magic with traditional seasonal delights.

The book is beautifully illustrated and is a true visual delight for adults and children alike. It's got a true nostalgic feel to it and reminded me of the books I had as a child.