The Tomten and the Fox, by Astrid Lindgren
I suppose everyone who has kids (or has been a kid) has read Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking books. Much less well-known is Lindgren's adaptation of Karl-Erik Forsslund's poem, "The Tomten and the Fox." I found it to be a charming rendition of an old Scandinavian folktale featuring a wise and kindly gnome who protects the family farm from a chicken-hungry fox.
Harald Wiberg's watercolor illustrations bring the magical moonlit evening to life, lending a certain serenity to the story even as the ravenous fox creeps ever closer to the chicken coop. The gnome's solution to the dilemma teaches children alternatives to violent conflict resolution even as it makes them aware that not everyone will always act fairly, honestly, and in accordance with adult rules. Still, the fox is not drawn as a purely evil character. Lindgren hints at the broader issues that surround want and hunger, suggesting complex motivations for anti-social behavior.
In the end, The Tomten and the Fox can be seen not only as a children's story, but as an allegory on sharing and social justice.
PUBLISHER: Coward-McCann, Inc. 1966. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 65-25501
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