Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender

Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender

This is the first of the classic Peter and Lotta books, and it is filled with the characteristic humor and charm that distinguish all of Elsa Beskow’s books. It tells how Peter and Lotta come to meet the three colorful sisters known as Aunt Green, Aunt Brown, and Aunt Lavender.

Translated from Swedish by Polly Lawson.

About the Author

Elsa Beskow (1874–1953) was born in Stockholm. Her parents were entrepreneur Bernt Maartman (1841–1889), whose family came from Bergen, Norway, and Augusta Fahlstedt (1850–1915). Beskow studied Art Education at Konstfack, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, then called Tekniska skolan, or the Technical school, in Stockholm. In 1897, she married former minister and social worker and doctor of theology Natanael Beskow, whom she met while serving as a teacher at Djursholms samskola, where he served as headmaster. They had six sons. Beskow became one of the best known of all Swedish children’s book artists. She also illustrated “ABC” books and songbooks for Swedish schools. Her book pages are often framed in a decorative Art Nouveau style. Beskow received international recognition for her simple, cheerful stories and outstanding illustrations.