A loving tale of a boy who dreams of becoming a cowboy while also embracing his Norwegian heritage Nils is a lanky American boy who dreams of becoming a cowboy. One day a package arrives from his grandmother in Norway: she has sent him a pair of stockings she knit herself. Nils is excited to wear his stockings to school-only to be teased by the other children and embarrassed by his new gift. He later gets the last laugh one snowy day when the other boys at school shiver in the cold while he is warm, wearing his lovely stockings. Beautifully illustrated, Nils depicts the landscapes near their New England home that inspired the authors and gently encourages first-generation immigrants to celebrate their family heritage and unique traditions.

This delightful storybook by the incomparable d'Aulaires, based on a poem by Hans Christian Andersen, will charm a whole new generation of little readers Don't count your chickens before they hatch, as the saying goes-but what about counting your eggs?! A woman with a good little house, a cat and a dog, and a fine hen who lays an egg every day (and even with a rooster who crows as if he'd laid the egg) sets off for town with a basket of fresh eggs. How much will she get for them? the woman wonders. Soon she is dreaming and scheming and beaming, counting the eggs and the coins they will fetch . . . and the hens the money will buy . . . and the eggs the new hens will lay! What bounty those eggs will bring her! She will buy two geese and a little lamb, which will give her wool . . . why not? Wait and see what happens in this playful take on a beloved Hans Christian Andersen poem. A true classic, Don't Count Your Chicks brings a timeless story to vivid life with all the old-world charm, humor, and brilliant colors that have made so many of the d'Aulaires' children's books perennial favorites.

Considered one of the finest works of Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, Leif the Lucky will delight both children and adults with the story of Leif, son of Erik the Red, who sailed with his father and a Viking crew to Greenland and then farther west to the continent of America. In this charming and lavishly illustrated edition, Leif is a sturdy, adventurous Viking boy who crosses uncharted seas to arrive at "a beautiful land with forests of strange trees growing all the way down to the shores." Leif wrestles with polar bear cubs, watches the fierce Norse gods race in the glow of the Northern Lights, and becomes a strong and courageous hunter. Written in the spirit of the ancient sagas and rich in color and detail, Leif the Lucky is a fascinating biography of the young Viking explorer.

The Caldecott medal-winning d'Aulaires once again captivate their young audience with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Norse legends, telling stories of Odin the All-father, Thor the Thunder-god and the theft of his hammer, Loki the mischievous god of the Jotun Race, and Ragnarokk, the destiny of the gods. Children meet Bragi, the god of poetry, and the famous Valkyrie maidens, among other gods, goddesses, heroes, and giants. Illustrations throughout depict the wondrous other world of Norse folklore and its fantastical Northern landscape.

"For any child fortunate enough to have this  generous book...the kings and heroes of ancient  legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the  pictures interpret the text literally and are full of  detail and witty observation."--Horn  Book.

"The drawings...are excellent  and excitingly evocative."--The New  York Times.


From the Hardcover edition.

From the beloved authors of D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths and other classics comes a new edition of one of Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaires's most beguiling children's books. Long out of print, Children of the Northlights introduces readers young and old to siblings Lise and Lasse and to the captivating Sami people and culture of northern Scandinavia. At times mischievous and at others quite courageous, Lisa and Lasse, and their Sami culture, are brought brilliantly to life in the d'Aulaires' illustrations. This remarkable sister and brother live at the very top of Norway-to Lise and Lasse, seemingly at the very top of the world. All bundled up against the polar winter in their coats of fur and furry shoes, they look at times like two little bears rolling in the snow. Beneath the bright dancing of the northern lights, we follow Lise and Lasse as they enjoy the long winter days and polar nights: playing pranks on their family, chasing and playing with their reindeer Silverside and Snowwhitedeer, skiing, taking hot saunas to stay clean, and staying warm while snowstorms rage across the land. Lise and Lasse hunker down in their warm tent and wait for the sun to return, which, of course, it always does. When the sun comes back in spring, it's time to go to school in the village (which Lise and Lasse happily do only after instructing their dogs to take very good care of Silverside and Snowwhitedeer while they're away). Inspired directly by a remarkable journey the d'Aulaires took to northern Europe and their time spent among the Sami, Children of the Northlights is a brightly illustrated portrait and celebration of the Sami people, culture, and snow-covered landscapes of the frozen north, from two of the twentieth century's greatest storytellers.

"For any child fortunate enough to have this  generous book...the kings and heroes of ancient  legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the  pictures interpret the text literally and are full of  detail and witty observation."--Horn  Book.

"The drawings...are excellent  and excitingly evocative."--The New  York Times.

Whether bringing to life the legends of the mightiest Greek and Norse gods in their widely beloved collections of myths, or retelling Chekhov's tale of a little lost dog as they do in "Foxie," the d'Aulaires excelled at the arts of storytelling and illustration. Foxie's tale, wonderful to look at and delightful to read, is certain to charm both young children and early readers.
Poor "Foxie"! With her "head like a fox and her tail like a cinnamon roll" she is adorable enough to charm anyone. But all her young master wants to do is tease her--and he isn't very good at remembering mealtime either. One day his pranks go too far when he lures his dog out onto the busy city streets with a tasty bone and loses her. Foxie is soon rescued by a roly-poly circus-animal trainer who spots her fl air for singing and adds her to his act, alongside a piano-playing cat and a strutting rooster. Opening night is full of surprises, though, and Foxie is overjoyed when she hears a familiar voice in the audience, calling out her name.

Ola is the enchanting story of a dauntless Norwegian boy who goes skiing one day and has many unusual adventures before returning home. He meets new friends, joins a merry wedding party, encounters a howling dragon, and learns bits of folklore from fishermen in the far north while pulling codfish from the icy waters. This delightfully illustrated book is at once a true glimpse of life as it once was in Norway and a tribute to Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire's zest for living.