The Land of Long Ago

Quick Look

• A delightful fairy tale from Elsa Beskow, with beautiful illustrations in her unique, classic style.
• The Land of Long Ago is a new Elsa Beskow book available in English for the first time.

Kelly and Kai are whisked off to a distant land with princesses, knights and trolls, when a mischievous gnome brings their play tree trunk to life as a dragon.

Description

Kelly and Kai love to play on the gnarled old tree trunk outside their cottage in the woods: sometimes it becomes a horse, sometimes a crocodile and sometimes even a dragon.

One day a mischievous gnome makes the tree trunk come to life, and the children are whisked off to the Land of Long Ago on the back of the old tree dragon. On their incredible journey Kelly and Kai meet a princess, rescue a knight and trick the king of the trolls. But will the old tree dragon stay alive long enough to bring them home again?

A delightful fairy tale from Elsa Beskow, with beautiful illustrations in her unique, classic style.

Reviews

'I would recommend this fairy tale with its classic pictures for young people aged 3 to 6 years, and it is very enjoyable to read it out loud.'
-- Corinna Spellerberg, Education Otherwise

'Elsa captures the magic of childhood beautifully.'
-- Juno, Winter 2010

'A beloved Swedish tale, literally from long ago, is now published in English … The illustrations have the lovely faded texture of a well-worn and oft-read story, with soft colors and edges and static tableaux. The particular images of princess and knight, dragon and meadow, sheep and garden echo antecedents in medieval manuscripts and in 19th-century book illustration … An old-fashioned telling with definite contemporary appeal.'
-- Kirkus Review

Author

Elsa Beskow is a Floris Books featured author. Read all about this author's life and work on our dedicated author page.

Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) is the most popular children's author--illustrator in Sweden. Often described as Sweden's Beatrix Potter, Elsa Beskow's picture books have been known and loved for over a century. Her charming stories of children and magical folk, accompanied by her signature illustrations, are known and cherished the world over.

Media

Links

Find out more about Elsa Beskow and her world on our Elsa Beskow Biography and Book Information page. Includes a complete book list.

We also produce a beautiful annual calendar featuring seasonal artwork from Elsa Beskow's books:
Elsa Beskow Calendar 2013