Norwegian Folk Tales of Anthon and Gurina Johnson, 40 pages
retold by Jean Russell Larson
Jean Russell Larson presents eight delightful “chimney-corner” tales that have been passed down in her Norwegian family.
Norwegian Folk Tales of Anthon and Gurina Johnson, has stories of maidens and misers, of smelly old goats and greedy princes, with the requisite cautionary tales for young listeners. You’ll find a story on a girl named Dumpling and an orphan named Elsie who understands that “fair is fair.”
Larson grew up hearing the stories from her great-grandmother, who immigrated to America from Norway. She told the tales to her children, who referred to the stories as “chimney-corner tales,” given that the corner fireplace was where family members gathered to hear the stories. And now she’s sharing them with her readers.