The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits

K-Gr 2—Grump the tomte feels lonely. The farm he protects has long been abandoned, and his friend the bumblebee has flown away. "I've been too friendly," he thinks. "I've not been grumpy enough. That's why I'm feeling sad. It's time to make a few changes." Changes are coming, but not the kind Grump expects. It starts with a rabbit family and their plans for a midsummer festival. Father longs for a chance to show off his hat, philosophical but forgetful Grandfather hopes to give speeches and write poems, and the others wish for dancing, food, love, and magic. When a great storm forces all the woodland animals to seek shelter at the tomte's farm, his carefully structured, solitary life is thrown into chaos. Interwoven through the plot is the story of Rory, a newcomer rabbit who captures the affections of young Binny and the ire of Father, who cannot forgive Rory for mistaking his beloved hat for a bucket for dandelion leaves. Translated from Swedish, Stark's tale, with its whimsical characters and engaging narrative tone, brings to mind Tove Jansson's "Moomin" books and A.A. Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories. The oversize format and delicate, expressive colored pencil illustrations give the work a timeless flair.