The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlof

What worked:

The book’s main focus is on the transformation of Nils’ character into a tiny gnome. As the story opens, Nils is a lazy, self-centered jerk who enjoys misbehaving and causing harm to others. After he shrinks in size, the farm animals remember his cruel tricks and have no empathy for his predicament. Nils is pulled aboard a white gander named Martin, and his adventure begins. Martin’s kindness toward Nils becomes a catalyst, as they promise to stay together. The pair join a group of geese traveling north to Lapland, and Nils begins to help other creatures they meet. Initially, this behavior doesn’t seem possible for him, but he slowly develops a positive reputation across the wildlife. Nils finds ways to protect other creatures from predators and humans, and his compassion is rewarded in unexpected ways.

The adventure carries readers across the country of Sweden, so they can learn a bit along the way. A map at the front of the book can be used to trace the route. Nils and the geese migrate north, and their ultimate destination is Lapland. They encounter other birds, some migrating too, and most of them are friendly and helpful. Animals on the ground aren’t always as nice, and a fox persistently threatens the flock until Nils finds a solution. Nils zig-zags across Sweden, but one final problem remains: what must he do to return to his former size and life? The answer will require Nils to betray a friend.

What didn’t work as well:

Although the plot has subtle changes in settings and characters, there’s a sameness to the events. The flock faces various obstacles, and Nils helps them out. Or, Nils gets in trouble, and animals assist him. However, the real treasure is watching Nils develop empathy for others and become a character to admire.

The final verdict:

This Swedish story is symbolic of most folktales and fairy tales, where the main characters learn valuable life lessons. I recommend middle-grade readers try this book for themselves.