When Findus Was Little and Disappeared

Farmer Pettson sat doing the crossword, with Findus the cat on his knee. “Tell me about when I disappeared,” said Findus.

“You haven’t disappeared,” said Pettson. “You’re sitting right here.”
“Yes, but—when I was little.“
“Oh then ... But you’ve heard the story so often before.”
“But tell it to me anyway!”

So here is the story of when Findus was little and disappeared. Findus and Pettson live in a red farmhouse, with a henhouse, workshop, and toolshed set among the forests, fields, and meadows of rural Sweden. Every picture tells a story, with a fascinating, magical world of tiny creatures.

(Children aged 4 and up and early years educators)

Sven Nordqvist is a leading Swedish children's illustrator and writer. Nordqvist was born in Helsingborg and grew up in Halmstad, Sweden. He originally wanted to be an illustrator but was rejected by several art schools. Instead, he studied architecture in Lund and worked as a lecturer in architecture in the university. Meanwhile, he looked for work as an illustrator of advertisements, posters, and picture books. In 1983, he won first prize in a children's book competition and since then has worked exclusively as an author and illustrator of children's books, which have won awards in Sweden and Germany. The Findus and Pettson stories draw on his own playful adventures with his two young sons. Nordqvist's unique illustrations are inspired by his delight in everyday life.