All the really cool people live in Sweden

At least, that's what Sariah thinks. I mean, who wouldn't want to play with

The Tomten

Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka

Ollie (and his trusty sidekick, Jack Frost)

Pelle

Woody, Hazel, Little Pip, and the Chestnut boys

the Elf

and (no photo available), Pippi Longstocking herself!

Sariah tells me all the time about how she wants to go to Sweden so she can play with all these little friends. She thinks they really exist, in Sweden. And she's really curious to know where, exactly, Sweden is. She knows it's across the ocean, but she thinks it might possibly be in walking distance of our house, too.

I have to say, Sweden sure produces some fabulous authors if they can induce a little girl to think that the characters they have created not only really do exist, but they must be some of the funnest kids--and creatures--on earth!

The books:

The Tomten, The Tomten and the Fox, and Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka series by Maj Lindman
Ollie's Ski Trip; Pelle's New Suit; Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip; The Sun Egg; and many more by Elsa Beskow

(OK, so Pippi Longstocking was really Dallin's book... but it's Swedish, so it fits here!)