Oh, why aren't these more widely available in the US?! Found this copy not in the rural Nevada library network, not in the Wisconsin system, but in the little Redbud library in Clearlake, California, a country town in an undiscovered rural county northeast of the SF Bay area. Thank you, Clear Lake County library system!

Such a heartwarming story, with lots of humor. Illustrations are so detailed and bewitching - busy with activity instead of distracting brushstrokes or other artsy-fartsy stylings. Loved the flock of birds skiing, Mercury's knit tail-tip warmer, the tiny tomtens keeping house, etc. etc. Highly recommended; 4.5 stars. ( )

Merry Christmas, Festus and Mercury, 1989 American translation of Pettson får julbesök.

Originally published in Swedish as Pettson får julbesök, this fourth picture-book devoted to the adventures of farmer Pettson and his cat Findus (Festus and Mercury in this American translation) is a heartwarming holiday tale that highlights the importance of community, while also capturing the quirky individuality of its human and feline heroes. When Festus is injured while out cutting fir branches to decorate the front door for the holidays, and can't get to the store to buy supplies, or to the woods to cut a tree, it looks like Christmas will be a very grim one indeed! Thankfully, a young neighbor boy named Axel stops by, and learning of the problem, alerts all of the other neighbors, who descend upon Festus and Mercury in an impromptu party, making it a very merry Christmas after all.

Unlike the first Pettson and Findus title, which I read in two different English translations - one, Pancake Pie, an American edition, and the other, The Birthday Cake, done by the original Swedish publisher - I was only able to obtain this American version of Pettson får julbesök. Given my feelings about the translations listed above, one of which (The Birthday Cake) was far more comprehensive than the other, I have reason to suspect that Merry Christmas, Festus and Mercury is somewhat abridged. Still, in the absence of any other edition with which I might compare it (I don't read Swedish, and Findus at Christmas isn't due out until this coming October), I enjoyed this book immensely!

The artwork is just as detailed and humorous as the first book (I haven't yet tracked down the second), and the story just as satisfying. Pettson and Findus (sorry, Festus and Mercury here) are engaging characters, and their madcap antics make for fun reading. I liked that the sharpness of their characters, and the pointed humor of their interaction, isn't blunted by the goodhearted theme of neighborly care at Christmas, but that the two strands of the story exist side-by-side. All in all, a sweet little holiday tale, and more than enough to convince me to continue with my Sven Nordqvist extravaganza! ( )

Sverige, ude på landet, ca 1990
Katten Findus bor hos den gamle Peddersen. Katten har tøj på og kan tale med Peddersen og fungerer i det hele taget som var den et opvakt lille barn.
I denne historie holder de jul, men lidt besværligt, for Peddersen forstuver foden på vej hjem med julegran. Findus vasker gulv og de bager brunkager. Og så bliver det lidt trist, for de havde ikke købt ind til jul endnu. Ingen juletræ og ingen mælk til julegrøden. Men naboen, Gustafsens, søn Axel kommer forbi. Han snakker derhjemme, så Gustafsens kone, Else, kommer forbi lidt senere med en vældig stor julekurv. Lindgren, Andersen, Nielsen og Jensen kommer også forbi og så mange har der ikke været i Peddersens hus, siden han fyldte 60. Da de er gået, har Findus og Peddersen en mægtig hyggelig juleaften.

Sød lille historie. ( )