Culture & Language

A new centenary gift edition of the much-loved collection of folk and fairy tales from Sweden, illustrated by acclaimed artist John Bauer.

From good natured Scandinavian trolls through giants, tomtes, shepherd boys and princesses, the twenty-three classic stories by well-known authors such as Elsa Beskow and Anna Wahlenberg are delightfully told, full of adventure and magic with clever, resourceful children outwitting fairytale villains.

John Bauer's art – renowned for its detail, character and subtle humor – has never looked more luminous and evocative than in this gorgeously produced edition. Twenty extra pictures have been added along with a wonderful illustrated biography of Bauer, celebrating his work and life one hundred years after his premature death. The book has a foiled cover and ribbon marker, perfect for gifting.

This treasury will be cherished for generations to come.

256 pages. Hardcover.

A vivid retelling of Norse mythology that explores these legendary stories and their significance and influence on the Viking world.

Valhalla and its pantheon of gods and heroes have always fascinated readers, whether it is how these tales illuminate the Viking world or influence cultural touchstones like J.R.R. Tolkien, whose Middle Earth is heavily indebted to Germanic and Norse mythology, as well as Hollywood and comic-culture.

In Tales of Valhalla, the Whittocks have dramatically retold these rich stories and set them in context within the wider Viking world. Including both myths — stories, usually religious, which explain origins, why things are as they are, the nature of the spiritual — and legends — stories which attempt to explain historical events and which may involve historical characters but are told in a non-historical way and that often include supernatural events. Tales from Valhalla is an accessible and lively volume that brings these hallmarks of world literature to a new generation.

288 pages. Paperback.

Per, the youngest son, didn't inherit as much as his older brothers — only a handsomely carved and painted wooden horse. But he knew that one day the horse would prove useful. Stunning colored-pencil illustrations by Yvonne Gilbert and spirited text by Rebecca Hickox. Paperback. 30 pages.

The definitive history of the Vikings -- from arts and culture to politics and cosmology -- by a distinguished archaeologist with decades of expertise.
 
The Viking Age -- from 750 to 1050 -- saw an unprecedented expansion of the Scandinavian peoples into the wider world. As traders and raiders, explorers and colonists, they ranged from eastern North America to the Asian steppe. This is a deeply researched history that completely reimagines the way the Vikings lived and their impact on the world. From Eirík Bloodaxe, who fought his way to a kingdom, to Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, the most traveled woman in the world, Children of Ash and Elm is the definitive history of the Vikings and their time. Neil Price does a tremendous job of capturing the richness and sophistication of Viking culture.

Neil Price is distinguished professor and chair of archaeology at Uppsala University, Sweden. He has been researching, teaching, and writing on the Vikings for nearly thirty-five years and is the author of several books on the history of the Viking Age. He lives in Sweden. He served as an historical consultant and lead presenter for the History Channel's series, Real Vikings, and consultant for The Vikings Begin exhibit at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

640 pages.  Paperback.

Da vait is over!

Everyone can use a good laugh once in a while and this collection of Ole & Lena jokes are just the ticket! Quaint and well-meaning, Ole & Lena jokes celebrate the quirky folk humor of the Scandinavian immigrant community. You’ll laugh ’til your socks fall down!

Paperback (5" x 7"). 48 pages, b&w illustrations. By Mike & Else Sevig.

The Dala Horse: History Tradition Handicraft

From one of the world's most renowned authors on spirituality comes an accessible introduction to runes. Nordic runes are the most popular and easiest symbols to work with and can effectively release energy for a positive purpose in one's life. Cassandra Eason explains to spiritual seekers exactly what runes are, how to make their own, which ones are right for them, and much more.

Trolls haunt snowy forests, and terrifying monsters roam the open sea.
A young woman journeys to the end of the world, and a boy proves he knows no fear.
This collection of 16 traditional tales transports readers to the enchanting world of Nordic folklore. Translated and transcribed by folklorists in the 19th century and presented here unabridged, the stories are by turns magical, hilarious, cozy and chilling. They offer a fascinating view into Nordic culture and a comforting wintertime read. Ulla Thynell's glowing contemporary illustrations accompany each tale, conjuring dragons, princesses and the Northern Lights. This special gift edition features an embossed, textured case and a ribbon marker. Hardcover. 168 pages.

This book, chocked full of easy crafts, recipes and tidbits of holiday traditions, will help make your family or classroom Christmas a Swedish one. Patterns for a straw goat, heart basket and other ornaments; 27 recipes, and lots more. By Helen Ingeborg. 32 pages. Paperback. 

Sit down at the piano, dust off the accordion! You'll have hours of fun with this collection of 96 songs familiar to Swedish-Americans. There are folk songs, children's songs, Christmas songs and hymns. All are arranged for piano, with guitar and accordion chords, and lyrics in Swedish. English translations, many singable, are included for all the songs. There are historical notes and delightful illustrations throughout. Softcover.

This book shows the fascinating diversity and beauty of Sweden. Sweden, a symbol of Scandinavian idyll, inspires with its falun-red wooden houses surrounded by dense forests, with its quiet bays, long sandy beaches, lighthouses and windmills, colorful boathouses, the glittering sea between archipelagos, the infinite number of lakes, the lonely and wide snow landscapes, dog sleds, reindeer and moose.

Udo Bernhart has been working as a freelance photographer and photo journalist for more than 35 years and has published countless reports in national and international magazines. Growing up in the Vinschgau and closely connected to the South Tyrolean landscape, his commissions have taken him all over the world. Traveling and discovering the world belong to Sabine von Kielin's passions alongside art and media. She financed her studies as a flight attendant and traveled almost the whole of America and the most diverse places on earth.

Paperback. 456 pages.

Sweden is an illuminating and practical guide to Swedish culture and society. It will help you turn your visit - whether it's for business or for pleasure - into a memorable and enriching experience.

Local customs and traditions
The impact of history, religion, and politics
The Swedes at home, work, and play
Eating and drinking, Swedish Style
Dos, don'ts, and taboos
Business Practices
Communication, spoken and unspoken

The Insight Guides are beautiful, visual guides to destinations worldwide. They are renowned for their striking color photographs which vividly convey a sense of everyday life. They each contain detailed maps and helpful travel tips, along with a wealth of information about the culture, commerce, government, arts and literature, sights and sounds of the country they describe. Insight Guide Scandinavia is your comprehensive guide to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Full-color photos throughout combine with lively text to inspire you to discover this vast and fascinating region. Lively and engaging essays on history and culture cover a wide range of subjects, from the legacy of the Vikings to the food and drink, while the Places chapters will help you plan your trip to this natural landscape of sparkling fjords and rocky mountains, glassy lakes and rushing rivers, dense forests and frozen tundra. Major sites are cross-referenced with the detailed maps to help you get around, while the travel tips give you all the planning information you’ll need, including recommendations about where to eat and where to stay.

Trace your Swedish, Norwegian or Danish ancestors! This convenient guide will help you discover your Northern European family history while optimizing your research time.

Highlights include:

• Strategies for identifying immigrant Scandinavian ancestors, plus how to trace them to Europe from North America.
• Methods for locating Swedish genealogy records, Norwegian genealogy records, or Danish genealogy records within your family's town of origin.
• Detailed guides to finding and decoding common Scandinavian records, including: church records, civil registration records, census returns, property deeds, military records, and many more.
• Quick guides to Scandinavian history, geography, and language.
• Historical timelines, sample records, and resource lists that will bring your family history to life.

If your family tree includes Swedish roots, Danish roots or Norwegian roots, The Family Tree Scandinavian Genealogy Guide is a must-have for your genealogy research.

256 pages. Paperback.

A step-by-step handbook to help guide you in researching your Swedish ancestors. Learn what Swedish records are available, where to find them, and how to use them­. Also discusses Swedish naming practices, and other helpful background information. By Per Clemensson & Kjell Andersson, this book is published by Ancestry Publishing. 

From smörgåsbord and St. Lucia processions to Christmas Eve gatherings with family and friends, Swedish Americans are linked through the generations by a legacy of meatballs and lutfisk.

Previously all separate books, these works have now been combined into one collection subtitled "Paintings from the Swedish Arts and Crafts Movement." Accompanied text provides insight into Carl Larsson's life in his home, with his family, and on his farm. Hardcover. 102 pages.

There’s a new threat in town—and it’s only twelve inches tall. How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack is the only comprehensive survival guide that will help you prevent, prepare for, and ward off an imminent home invasion by the common garden gnome. Once thought of as harmless yard decorations, evidence is mounting that these smiling lawn statues are poised and ready to wreck havoc. The danger is real. And it’s here. Class 1 gnome-slayer and gnome defense expert Chuck Sambuchino has developed a proven system—Assess, Protect, Defend, Apply—for safeguarding property, possessions, and loved ones. Strategies include step-by-step instructions for gnome-proofing the average dwelling, recognizing and interpreting the signs of a gathering hoard, and—in the event that a secured perimeter is breached—confronting and combating the attackers at close range.

Growing up with Swedish and Norwegian grandparents with a dash of Danish thrown in for balance, Eric Dregni thought Scandinavians were perfectly normal. Who doesn’t enjoy a good, healthy salad (Jell-O packed with canned fruit, colored marshmallows, and pretzels) or perhaps some cod soaked in drain cleaner as the highlights of Christmas? Only later did it dawn on him that perhaps this was just a little strange, but by then it was far too late: he was hooked and a dyed-in-the-wool Scandinavian himself.

What does it actually mean to grow up Scandinavian-American or to live with these Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Danes, and Icelanders among us? Dregni tracks down and explores the significant–and quite often bizarre–tales and traditions of Scandinavians in the Midwest with insight and humor.

For all the tales his grandparents told him, Dregni quickly discovers there are quite a few they neglected to mention, such as Swedish egg coffee, which includes the eggshell, and Lutheran latte, which is Swedish coffee with ice cream. Vikings in the Attic goes beyond the lefse, lutefisk, and lusekofter (lice jacket) sweaters to reveal the little-known tales that lie beneath the surface of Nordic America. Ultimately, Dregni ends up proving by example why generations of Scandinavian-Americans have come to love and cherish these tales and traditions so dearly. Well, almost all of them.  

Paperback. 288 pages.

Short Stories in Swedish for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! These eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading.

Carefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including:

· A glossary for bolded words in each text
· A bilingual word list
· Full plot summary
· Comprehension questions after each chapter.

About the author: Olly Richards speaks eight languages and is the man behind the popular blog "I Will Teach You a Language." He started learning his first foreign language at age 19, when he bought a one-way ticket to Paris. With no exposure to language growing up, and no special talent to speak of, he had to figure out how to learn a foreign language from scratch. Fifteen years later, Olly has studied ten languages and has decided to reveal how he accomplished his goal of learning foreign languages quickly.

224 pages. Paperback.

Embrace your viking spirit by learning how to do viking braids, cook viking food, and dress like a viking. Everything you need to indulge yourself in the viking life is here. Author: Kjersti Egerdahl. 

With fast facts, mini missions, and engaging artwork, Vikings in 30 Seconds is the perfect introduction to one of the world’s most fascinating cultures.
Children will discover all about these amazing warriors, including where they came from, their incredible skill as boat builders and seafarers, and how they traded and settled in distant lands.
Each topic is presented in a concise 30-second summary, supported by a 3-second flash soundbite, and full-color artwork. Extra activities for kids to explore support the topics, encouraging them to explore on their own and discover more.

Lively design and engaging text combine with appealing artwork to make this irresistible to children ages 8 and older.

96 pages. Paperback.

The handy pocket-sized format dictionary for everyday use or while traveling. Contains up-to-date vocabulary with phonetic transcription and many other extras.

The trusted Universal Dictionary ensures quick and accurate reference with over 16,000 keywords and phrases in Swedish and English. Up-to-date vocabulary with phonetic transcription. With basic phrases, abbreviations, mini grammar, irregular verbs in Swedish and English in the annex. The ideal pocket reference work for use at home, in the office, at school or while traveling.

Flexibound. 416 pages.

4.2 x 3.1"

The Danish taught us hygge—how to embrace coziness.
The Swedes showed us the joys of lagom—balance.
Now, in this irreverent guide, discover the Finns’ secret to contentment: kalsariokanni—pantsdrunk–drinking at home, alone, in your undies!

When it comes to quality of life rankings, Finland always scores near the top of international surveys. Finns enjoy the best education system, gender equality, and a flourishing welfare state. These accomplishments have been made possible because of the Finns’ sisu or bull-headed pluck, as well as their ability to stay calm, healthy, and content despite a riptide of endless tasks and temptations—an ability that derives from the practice of kalsarikanni: pantsdrunk.

In this wry guide, Miska Rantanen explains this revered Finnish way of life and explains how to adopt it:

1. Peel off your clothes down to your underwear.
2. Place your favorite savory or sweet snacks within reach alongside your bed or sofa.
3. Make sure your television remote is nearby along with any and all devices to access social media.
4. Open your preferred alcoholic beverage.

Your journey toward inner strength, higher quality of life, and peace of mind has begun.

Rantanen explains the philosophy of panstdrunk and offers insights into how to reach pantsdrunk nirvana, how to practice pantsdrunk outside your home, how to combine it with social media, music, and film, and how to use it in achieving Zen.

176 pages. Hardcover.

Da vait is over!

Everyone can use a good laugh once in a while and this collection of Ole & Lena jokes are just the ticket! Quaint and well-meaning, Ole & Lena jokes celebrate the quirky folk humor of the Scandinavian immigrant community. You’ll laugh ’til your socks fall down!

Paperback (5" x 7"). 48 pages, b&w illustrations. By Mike & Else Sevig.