Matti A. Pitkänen (1930–1997)

Isolated islands and rural communities of the Nordic countries are the focus of this book. Sections cover Iceland, the Faeroe Islands (an autonomous province of Denmark), Sweden's Gotland, Åland (an autonomous province of Finland), and Norway's Lofoten Islands. I was particularly interested in the Lofoten Islands as my ancestors came from this region.

Each region has about six pages devoted to it with some narrative and many photographs, especially photographs of children. I like the focus on natural features (the geysers of Iceland!) and the traditional rural lifestyles and culture. The book also touches on the role tourism plays in these communities.

The common ties to the Vikings and their isolation from the larger, more European cities of Scandinavia is highlighted. While none of these regions is covered in any depth, there is enough here to make me want to learn more. It also made me wonder how true these portraits are -- are these communities romanticized, and have they changed in dozen or so years since this book was published.

One role of children's books is to stimulate curiosity and wonder, and in that sense this book has played its role and played it well.… (mehr)