Mini Root Children

This is a classic story of the changing seasons. The root children spend the winter asleep. When spring comes, they wake, sew themselves new gowns, and clean and paint the beetles and bugs. All summer they play in fields, ponds and meadows before returning in the autumn to Mother Earth, who welcomes them home and puts them to bed once more.

Available in both the original large-format and a mini version for small hands.

(Ages 3–7 years)

“Nothing could date this stunningly illustrated century-old book telling the story of the seasons.... Children are enchanted by images like the root children painting a line of ladybirds with pots of red and black paint. Sibylle von Olfers' careful drawings depict Nature scenes halfway between imagination and reality.”—Juno Magazine, Top Ten Children's Books

Sibylle von Olfers (1881–1916) was born Maria Regina Angela Hedwig Sibylla von Olfers in the Castle of Metgethen (Schloss Metgethen), near Königsberg. She grew up in a sheltered childhood and enjoyed, together with her brothers and sisters, education and teaching through governesses and private tutors. Sebylle became a German art teacher and nun and worked as an author and illustrator of children's books. In 1906 she published her most well-known work, Etwas von den Wurzelkindern, translated into English as The Root Children. She used a blend of natural observation and simple design, which has led to comparisons with Kate Greenaway and Elsa Beskow.