The Story of the Root Children

The Story of the 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.

Under the ground, deep in the earth among the roots of the trees, the little root children were fast asleep all winter long…

When spring comes, it’s time for the root children—snowdrop, forget-me-not, buttercup, daisy, and poppy—to wake up! There are new dresses to sew, and insects to be painted.

When summer comes, the root children are free to play in the beautiful fields, ponds and meadows. But when autumn comes and the cold wind starts to blow, it’s time to go back to their cozy home below ground.

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

About the Author

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.