This splendid fairytale is of German origin. An impoverished glassblower, named Albert, lives with his beloved wife Sophia and their two children, Klas and Klara. He creates beautiful glass bowls and vases that are unique and extraordinary. Unfortunately they are so impractical that no one buys from him forcing his wife to work in the fields to supplement their living needs. He packs up his wears each year and takes his family to a local fair to hopefully sell his goods. It is at the fair that Flutter Mildweather comes into their lives. She is a weaver of tapestries, tells people's fortunes and is involved with witchcraft. She owns a one-eyed raven named Wise Wit who can only see good in the world. They live in isolation away from the rest of the villagers. Klas and Klara are spotted by a very wealthy Lord and Lady of All Wishes Town. The couple have everything at their disposal but they do not have any children. The Lord takes it upon himself to kidnap the children to give to his lovely, unhappy wife, hoping that the children will make her happy once again. Klaus and Klara find themselves prisoners in the Lord's mansion surrounded by the River of Forgotten Memories. Their only playmates are reflections of themselves in the mirrors that line the grand hallways. A controlling and evil Nanny is hired for the children and their quality of life diminishes even more. What is to be done? Their parents don't know their whereabouts and they themselves cannot escape. Is this to be their destiny?Just as their very lives are at risk, Flutter Mildweather, and her raven companion, arrive to rescue them from their hopeless existence. The book is full of vivid, strange characters and makes you think about the difference between what you want and what you really need. This book is reprinted in a beautiful edition with the original white-on-black etched illustrations. This mystical, allegorical story won the 1974 Hans Christian Anderson Award. I highly recommend this book.
I have a very special story about this book.Back, when I was a little kid (I think I was 10 years old) I used to arrive late to school very often. At my school, those who arrived late where always punished, either waiting in secretary or the library to the next classes to begin. That day I arrived late and the principal sent me to the library for the first time.There was no one there, so to not bore myself out I decided to pick a book to read since I loved reading. So I saw this one, it was saying "read me, read me" and so I sat down in the floor and I started reading. I was completely absorved by it, so absorved that when the principal came to pick me up I didn't want to go. I had to finish it! The next days I arrived late on purporse just to read the book until my parents bought it for me, haha. It's a magical story. Special, full of love, fantasy, tenderness, innocence, and all those thing one can only find in children's literature.I recommend this book or any written by Maria Gripe to everyone.
What do You think about Los Hijos Del Vidriero (2004)?
This is a wonderful book for children, filled all things that kids should love: magic and abandonment, exotic almost mystical locales, funky character names, disappeared worlds, trials, ambiguous villans, bad parents, and talking, half-wise crows. Plus is scattered with some beautiful and dark woodcut pictures. What more could one want? There is also some philosophical musings, good at certain moments for making the (older and younger) reader think, but definitely doesn't go to far to distract from the story. It's not an action-packed narrative, don't think of Harry Potter-style chapters, but it's not long or slow either. It definitely has the fairy tale taste, but isn't out-of-date at all. Kids and adult will love. And it of course has a moral message at the end, never stop wishing.
—Nicholas During
