Christmas in Noisy Village

The children of Noisy Village—three interconnected farm houses with plenty of young people living in them—enjoy a variety of Christmas activities in this lovely holiday picture book from Swedish author/illustrator team Astrid Lindgren and Ilon Wikland. From making gingersnap cookies to piling up firewood and seeking Christmas trees, caroling from house to house to decorating their own houses, the children observe many traditions both indoors and out. Christmas Eve dinner, a retelling of the story of the Christ child, church on Christmas Day, time spent outdoors—skiing, tobogganing and skating—and a Christmas party just for them round out the doings at this most happy time of year...

Originally published in Sweden in 1963 as Jul i show more Bullerbyn, this delightful picture book is one of a number of titles, many of them chapter books, devoted to the doings of the children of Noisy Village. Having not read any of these other stories, I approached Christmas in Noisy Village with fresh eyes, and no set expectations, other than a belief that I would surely enjoy it, given the author and illustrator involved. Unsurprisingly, I was not disappointed, finding the narrative here engaging and heartwarming, and the artwork simply beautiful! I loved the depiction of the children's many Christmas activities—the sense of activity and fun, the way everyone, including baby Kerstin and almost-blind Grandfather, are included—and I found the visuals here quite breathtaking. Vividly colorful, with a beautiful use of light and shadow, this is artwork to pore over and savor! Recommended to picture book readers looking for Christmas stories about regular children doing holiday things and/or with a Swedish cultural setting. show less

Desperate to slake my love for Astrid Lindgren’s Noisy Village books, I bought this 32-page picture book. And how glad I was that I did! Naturally, Lindgren imbued the book with her usual, effortless charm, whether the children are making gingersnaps, cutting down Christmas trees or enjoying Christmas preparations or Christmas Day. What a delight to spend Christmas at the turn of the 20th century, before electricity or automobiles had made their ways to rural Sweden. What fun!

This lovely book also provided a rare chance to see gorgeous full-color illustrations by Ilon Wikland. Definitely a bonus.

Delightful picture book story from the Noisy Village series. The illustrations are so whimsical, I could spend hours pouring over each page, and the Swedish holiday traditions within are similar to those of my own family.

This is one of my favorite Christmas books, and I found it in a discard pile! Christmastime in a Nordic village is told from the viewpoint of the children as they anticipate Christmas. The writer writes of the activities in vivid images. The pictures are the kind that children can spend a long time pointing to and retelling the story of the book. This book will spark children's imagination, and they will come away activities that they will want to do at Christmas.

One of our family favorites, this book shows an intergenerational, outdoorsy, traditional Swedish Christmas celebration with charming illustrations.

This book is about typical christmas traditions in Bullerby, Sweden. It tells how the seven children experience christmas together in a very traditional way. To my regard, many children do not experience a very traditional way of Christmas anymore. Their man focus is on the presents they will have and not on all the preparations and the wonderful day. Like all the other books of the Bullerby children, it should expire families to put their focus less on the present, but more on time spending together, baking cookies, enjoy the snow (if there is snow) and of the story why Christmas is celebrated.

Oh my goodness these children are adorable. And lucky! With love, and work, even the long dark cold winters of Sweden can be full of joy and good cheer.