Pancakes for Findus by Sven Nordqvist
28 pp.
After spending all of August trying to
persuade Daughter to make me a pancake cake and failing, the witch was
pleased to find that Findus of Swedish pancake fame is coming this way.
The sensible people at Hawthorn Press are publishing Sven Nordqvist’s
hilarious tale of crusty old Pettson and his cat Findus, who has three
birthdays a year. (Between you and me, I always associated the name
Findus with frozen peas, but that’s beside the point.) Offspring have
enjoyed the pancake tale for years, and now it’s your turn, at long
last. Pettson and Findus live in a little red cottage in the
country, and in this first story they encounter some obstacles to their
plans for birthday pancakes. But obstacles are there to be overcome,
aren’t they? Sven Nordqvist, author and artist, grew up in the
same town as the witch, though I don’t think our paths crossed. The
Retired Children’s Librarian remembered that Sven made the posters for
an event at the library as he was local talent. And I did come across
the man in Gothenburg last year in my search for more signed books for
the collection. (Artists do good signings.) More coincidence here for the Pullman quote mad family—Philip is a fan, and this is what he has to say: "It’s not often that we come across books with such immediate and lasting appeal as Sven Nordqvist’s Pancakes for Findus
and his "Findus" series. The stories are ingenious, the characters are
quirky and original, and the illustrations are absolutely
delightful—I’ve seldom seen such an endless, apparently effortless flow
of invention. Readers young and old will spend happy hours poring over
them to find all the details, and revisit them again and again. I can’t
recommend them highly enough. Hurrah for Findus!" Hawthorn’s
contact with my local bookshop mentions the book as being liked by the
witch, and by Pullman. And it’s not often that the witch and Philip get
bracketed together like this, so I shall shut up here and leave it to
Pettson and his pet to charm you. And then go make some pancakes.
8¼ x 11¾
Hawthorn Press
Hardcover
Published: October 2007
Pancakes for Findus is the first story in the
adventures of farmer Pettson and his cat Findus. Pettson wants to bake a
birthday cake for Findus, who has three birthdays a year. But how will
they get the eggs with the bull in the way?
Findus and Pettson
live in a ramshackle cottage in the country, with a henhouse, workshop,
and woodshed. Their fascinating, magical world is inhabited by tiny
creatures who move Pettson's things about when he isn't looking.
Pancakes for Findus was the London Sunday Times “Children’s Book of the Week” in December 2007.
(Ages 4-8)
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