This loving retelling of a special Christmas Alta Halverson Seymour’s father had as a boy in Norway is the jewel in her Christmas collection. A short read of only 59 pages (plus a few extra pages of Christmas recipes), it is warm and lovely and full of goodness. It is also exciting and perfect for boys. And, the Purple House Press reprint has full-color illustrations generously spread across nearly every page.
Gunnuf, a ten-year-old Norwegian boy, lives on his family’s farm with his large extended family, and loves to fish, ice fish, ski, sled, and help with all of the traditional family work that makes this vibrant farm a real homestead. Gunnuf is a friendly soul who longs to do things well. His oldest brother Ole is nearly a man, but he still takes a careful and kind interest in his little brother.
Gunnuf wants so badly to be able to participate in the regional Christmas ski meet, but his father is concerned that he is too young, a bit immature, and not yet capable of handling such a responsibility. His brother Ole helps Gunnuf to practice anyway in the hopes that it will aid him in future competitions. And so, daily, Gunnuf goes up the mountain to do his practicing. While there, he routinely checks in on old Fru Solem, who lives alone with her goat and her cat in a mountain cottage. Fru Solem and Gunnuf are good friends, and Gunnuf makes sure the older lady has enough firewood and other little necessities. One day, however, things are not as they should be, and Gunnuf proves to himself and everyone else that he is indeed quite responsible and capable.
This story is heartwarming and beautiful. In addition to being a celebration of family life, it is a great story about the goodness of boys. I think mamas of boys will rejoice to have such a story to share with their little men.