Beskow, Elsa (1874-1953), was one of Sweden’s best-loved authors and illustrators of children’s books. Beskow gained special recognition for her picture books, which she both wrote and illustrated. She filled her books with drawings of flowers, plants, trees, and mountains that recreate the delightful Swedish landscape Beskow remembered from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Beskow’s stories blend reality with fantasy and fairy tales. She portrayed talking animals and children meeting elves and goblins. Beskow’s charming and colorful works earned her comparison to the famous English children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter.
Beskow wrote and illustrated nearly a dozen collections of fairy tales and more than 30 other books during her long career. Many of her stories were inspired by her family life. Her sons were models for many of her characters. Beskow wrote an “Aunt” series, inspired by her nostalgic childhood memories of life with her extended family. The series began with Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender (1918). The novels in the series all portray the loving friendship between the adult characters and two children named Peter and Lotta.
In addition to her “Aunt” series, Beskow’s most popular picture books include Peter in Blueberry Land (1901), Children of the Forest (1910), and Pelle’s New Suit (1912). Beskow also illustrated alphabet books and songbooks for Swedish schools.
Elsa Maartman was born on Feb. 11, 1874, in Stockholm. Her stories and drawings were first published in the children’s magazine Father Christmas in 1894. Her first book, The Tale of the Little, Little Old Woman, was published in 1897. Also in 1897, she married Nathaniel Beskow, a minister and headmaster. Elsa died on June 30, 1953.
In 1958, the Swedish Library Association established the Elsa Beskow Plaque, awarded annually to a Swedish children’s illustrator for the best-illustrated book of the previous year.
