Book Sharing Monday 2010 - Snow, thaw and shelves

An appropriate choice for today, I thought, is Ollie's Ski Trip by Elsa Bescow.  Another of these gentle little stories, this tells how Ollie gets a new pair of skis for his birthday, but doesn't get to use them for ages, as the snow keeps falling and then thawing right away.  Then at last it snows for 3 days and he gets his chance.  Out he goes, revelling in the beauty of the winter landscape, and he meets Jack Frost !  Jack Frost is very impressed with Ollie and asks him if he would like to visit King Winter in his ice palace.  Well - who wouldn't?  On their way, however, the meet an old woman with a broom, who is making the ice and snow melt - Mrs Thaw!

 

Jack Frost chases her off in quite a rude fashion, but when Ollie challenges him, he says that Mrs Thaw is always trying to come too soon - she should not be here until the spring.  Anyway, Ollie has a most wonderful time at King Winter's court, playing, sledging and skating.  Then he returns home and he and his little brother enjoy the rest of the winter, playing in the snow.  Mrs Thaw stays away for a long time, but then at the end of winter, she comes back.

 

She didn't stop until there wasn't a speck of snow left

Rain poured down in torrents and last year's withered 

leaves were sent whilring away with her broom. And every-

one seemed to get a cold.  Ollie was really angry with Mrs Thaw.

 

But one lovely spring day, Spring came driving up in

her airy carriage drawn by white butterflies.  Then Ollie

saw Mrs Thaw, as she stood by the side of the ditch wearing

a brand new apron. She curtsied to Spring, beaming with 

delight For the first time, Ollie really liked Mrs Thaw 

and knew that she wasn't so bad after all.  But he did 

wish she would learn to come at the proper time.

Is this the proper time?  Or will King Winter and Jack Frost return?  Watch out for  the next couple of months to find out!

There are lots more books being shared at Serendipity every week on Book Sharing Monday.

Now I am going to add another dimesnion to my Book Sharing Monday posts.  I was very taken with this post on When I get the time.  Pippa mentions how people's kitchens and bookshelves can say a lot about them.  I have been thinking about this, and looking at our bookshelves.  Just glancing at the one to my right as I type has The Golfer's Companion sandwiched between The Complete New Herbal, and Solar Ethics.  Hmmm.  Well I am going to be brave and start sharing some of my bookshelves.  I have 2 small(quite chipped now that I notice) shelves in the kitchen which hold some of my cookery books, so we will start there.

I love looking at other people's book collections.  Dare to share?

Book Sharing Monday (ix)

This week we have chosen Peter in Blueberry Land by Elsa Beskow for Book Sharing Monday. This story was first published in Sweden in 1901, and is a delightful and timeless tale. It tells the story of Peter, who goes deep into the forest in search of berries for his Mother's birthday, but can't find any. Then the magic begins and the Blueberry King appears to help him.


Lots of good fun too, with the Blueberry Boys and the Cranberry Girls, and Peter has a wonderful time - and his Mother has a wonderful surprise birthday present.

When he got home, he drew a birthday card for his mother. (His big sister helped him with the spelling) Here it is. He picked these flowers for his mother too, and put them round the basket of berries.
His mother was very pleased and said it was one of the nicest presents she had ever had. "Where did you find all those berries?" she asked. But Peter smiled and shook his head. it was a secret between him and the King of Blueberry Land.

I like a mother who knows when to let things lie - little boys need to have some secrets :)

See more book shares every Monday at Serendipity.