Will, Boo & Baa

Olof and Lena Landstrom are to thank for some of our perennial favorite books.  Simply written (translated from Swedish) and illustrated, they capture the simple delights and experiences of children and anthropomorphic animals.

One series is about a little boy named Will.  He's a pretty easy-going little guy, and a capable one.  In Will Goes to the Post Office, he sets out to retrieve a package from his uncle Ben.  His neighborhood friends help him lug the big package home.  He and his mama spend a delightful day at the seaside in Will Goes to the Beach.  Back before I was so proficient at home haircuts, we read and reread Will Gets A Haircut.  And we never tire of the bravery Will shows in Will's New Cap when he goes to get a newspaper and falls down on the way home.

Boo and Baa are a lovable duo of sheep who manage all manner of adventures both domestic and otherwise. They whip their abode into shape in Boo and Baa on a Cleaning Spree and welcome a new little critter friend in Boo and Baa Have Company.  They navigate the high seas in Boo and Baa at Sea; the forest in Boo and Baa in the Woods; and the grocery store in blizzard conditions in Boo and Baa in Windy Weather.  They team up to present their friend Bob with a thoughtful birthday present in Boo and Baa in a Party Mood and face things that go bump in the night in Boo and Baa Get Wet.  These two are charming, endearing, and always well-received in our house.

These books are difficult to find.  Our library system has some of them, but I've resorted to buying others used online.  They're worth it, though, as they retain pride of place on the bookshelf.