Svengelskan

 I recently made a big collection of uplifting children's books in Swedish, from a Christian mamma's point of view. 

Some of those books are readily available, and some require digging in antique and second hand stores. 

Here is your cheat sheet! 

I call this, WHERE CAN I FIND THAT BOOK. 

1. "Munken och Kulan."  av Åke Samuelsson.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

If you like this book, there are 5 more books and almost 50 CDs available! (Our kids from 5-11 love listening to his storytelling on CD during long car rides).

2. "Kulla Gulla" serien av Martha Sandwall-Bergström.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

I have hardly been to a second hand that does not have at least one of her books for sale.....

3.  Ulf Nilssons books about Kommissarie Gordon are also classics.

He has been writing more than 100 books, from 1979-2009.  

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

4.  Another classic book we will be reading is Nils Holgerssons underbara resa by Selma Lagerlöf.  

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

5.  Åke Holmberg looks to be a whole new line of books our kids have not yet seen! Ture Sventon is one of them. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

6. Lasse-Maja series by Martin Widmark.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

7. "Barnen från Frostmofjället." 

Library (audio book), Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

Even as a audio book!

8.  I have gotten a tip for books from Anna Andersson, which I have just reserved from the library...we will see if she makes the cut!

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

9. Bröderna Lejonhjärta.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

 

10. Pippi Långstrump, If you can purely take this as an imaginary story from another world, then it is playful enough to enjoy.  There are certainly ghosts, pirates, and a fair amount of speaking back or disrespectfully. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

11. Emil books by Astrid Lindgren seem to be ok, as well as the Saltkråkan books.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

12.  Kastrullresan by Edith Unnerstad. I will have to look more into this one!

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

13. Prostens barnbarn, Morfar Prosten, and more by Eva Bexell

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

14. Kerstin Arthur Nilsons childrens books.  We will definitely be looking into these more.

For example:

Krubban i Krokum

En kompis som Cliff

Frökens pojke

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, second hand, fairly easy to find.

15.  My 11 year old daughter has read "Tonje och det hemliga brevet," och "Våffelhjärtat," by Maria Parr. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

16. "Klas Klättermus"  by Thorbjörn Egner. 

Also from Thorbjörn Tegner, our daughter has just read "Folk och rövare i Kamomilla stad."   This books gets ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ . 

Another book by this same author is "Ole Jakob på Adventyr i Stan."  ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ . 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

17.  Muminböckerna by Tove Jansson

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

18.  Viveka Lärn 

One of her more famous series is "En ettas dagbok" which describes the life of a girl going in first grade.   Another of her favorite books is "Robert Karlsson och Kungen." 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

19. Barnen Hedenhös by Bertil Almkvist

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

20. Kung Deus gåva av Andréas Andersson, en allegori om syndafallet och försoningen.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

21. "Musse and Helium" books by Camilla Brinck are a great new addition (for me) to our list. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

If you like these books, there are 5 of them in the series.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

And now the international books that have been translated into Swedish. 

1.  Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.   Older classic book, written 1950-1956. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐    If you like this one, there are 8 more in the series. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

2. Wonder or in Swedish "Undret."  by RJ Palacio. 

   Modern story, 2012, ages 6 and up. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

3.  The Wingfeather Saga, or in Swedish "Mörkret över Aerwiar,"  By Andrew Peterson.   Modern book, written 2008-2014.     ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

   

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

4.  "Det Lilla Huset på Prärien." or "Little House on the Prairie." by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Written from 1932-1943 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

5. Trädkoja med 13 våningar by Andy Griffiths.    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

6. Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a well worth reading classic book.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

7.  Störst av allt  and Den Stora Hemligheten  by Patricia St. John. 

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find, but well worth the search!

8. Lassie by Eric Knight. 

Some books age really well. This book never seems to get old!

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

9.  Brevet till Kungen by Tonke Dragt is on our list to read!

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

10. Gullivers Resa by Jonathan Swift

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

11. Unga Kvinnor by Louisa May Alcott

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

12. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe  

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

13. Lars på Island by Kirsten Bang is also on our to-do list. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

14. Teskedsgumman by Alf Prosen is also needed to be read soon before we give a review. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

15. Sotarpojken by Lisa Tetzner is also on the to-do list!

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

16. Bambi  by Felix Salten.  

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

17.  Den Otroliga Vandringen by Sheila Burnford

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

18. Pojken och Lånarna by Mary Norton

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

19.  Bävertecknet by Elizabeth George Speare

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

20.  Prinsessan och de underjordiska by George MacDonald, 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

22. Kristens Resa by John Bunyan

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

21.  En Liten Prinsessa and Den hemliga trädgården by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

22.  Hemlängtan av Michelle Magorian

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

23.  Anne på Grönkulla by L.M. Montgomery.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

24.  Sju Syskon by Ethel Turner.  I have not read this one yet, but am looking forward to reviewing it. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

25.  Joan Sandin and her books about Swedish people travelling to the USA, including "Den långa resan
till Amerika," "Den långa resan västerut," and "Hemma i det nya landet."

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

26.  I will be looking into Gunnel Lindes book Den olydige ballongen.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

27. "Pojken och Tjuvhanden" by Birgitta Kazen, and "Ser du örnarna, Dawit."

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

28. Den osynlige vännen, by Kari Vinje from Norway.

For example, more books include: Gud och jag är vänner, Ekorrlejonet, Mannen med ärret, Kamillas vän.

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

29. Ivan by Myrna Grant. Speaks of a Soviet Christian boy.

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

30. Urchin av M I McAllistar.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

31. Agaton Sax.

32. Ostindiefarian

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

33. Everything by Enid Blyton, but especially Fantastisk Fem. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Our kids also really loved reading her books about the Magic Faraway Tree. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

34. Cherry Ames (Sjuksköterskan)  by Helen Wells. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

35.  We will be looking into books from Lois Walfrid Johnson, especially the Windy Hill series.  

Only one of her books Främlingen i skogen are available in the library here in Gothenburg, in Swedish.   There are however, 4 or 5 books in the series. 

Library and second hand. A little bit harder to find.

36.  Judy Moody by Megan McDonald.  

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

37.  Små Människor, Stora drömmar, Anne Frank.  These books were written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and puts the holocaust and Anne Franks story in a simpler version for ages 4 and up to be able to handle.   Of course the actual book about Anne Frank is a classic too, Gömställe.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

 

38.  Min Vän Charlotte by E.B. White is also a classic book that is kind and good even when it is sad, and well worth reading for years to come. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

39.  Det susar i säven by Kenneth Grahame are also wonderful timeless books for kids to enjoy. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

Not small kids books but not quite chapter books either. 

1. Berättelsebibeln.   by Sally Lloyd-Jones.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Written in 2006. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

2. "Obeskrivlig" by Louie Giglio.  In English, "Indescribable."  

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Written 2017. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

3.  Alice och Leo och Pärlorna. by Christina Lovestam and Marie Åhfeldt.

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

            

READ ALOUD BOOKS or  FOR SMALLER KIDS

We will take the originally Swedish books first of all. 

1.   Elsa Beskow is a beloved Swedish author, classic and timeless. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

2.  "Madicken"  och "Barnen i Bullerbyn," by Astrid Lindgren are a great
insight on older days in Sweden, also with some hardships thrown in, but in general fun books to read.  Madicken och Junibacken Pims is especially recommended.  ⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

3.  While we are Astrid Lindgren, I will say that Jag vill också ha ett syskon and Jag vill också börja skolan are good. We have just reserved Rasmus på luffen, which was suggested to us. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

4.  So far, everything we have read from the Kråke Larsson series by Marie Bosson Rydell has been encouraging.   

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

5. Pelle Svanslös by Gösta Knutsson.  ⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

6. Sven Nordqvist has written the whole series of Pettson och Findus which are classics in our home.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

7.  The book series about Alla Barnen by Måns Gahrton is very funny. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 It highlights a huge family of brothers and sisters, retains a respect for family and parents, and often rhymes which makes the whole book quite singsongy and witty. 

8.  Saga sagor by Josefine Sundström and Emma Göthner.  

⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

And now the international books that have been translated into Swedish. 

1. "Är du med mig Gud" by Allia Zobel-Nolan is a sweet story for kids before they go to bed to think about how our God is always with us. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

2.  Max Lucado has several books for children that have been translated to Swedish.     ⭐⭐⭐⭐       This one is called "Om du någon gång skulle undra," and focuses on how God loves us. 

3. Bror Groda och Bror Padda by Arnold Lobel really take on the joys and challenges of friendship, in a sweet way. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

  SEASONAL or for HOLIDAYS

1. "Livet med Jesus," by Susie Pool.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

2.  Kommissarie Smart och fallet med den tomma graven, by Michael J. Tinker. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

3. "Den Första Julen."  by Anders and Birgitta Johansson  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.

4.  Den bästa julklappen,  a great book as christmas approaches to read a daily short family devotional, plus a daily short Bible reading in a fun way for kids. 

Library, Christian bookstores, and online, easy to find.