Emil in Lönneberga

• First published in 1963

• Over 23 Million books sold worldwide

• Translated into 53 languages

• 4 films

Colour editions of the classic Emil books

Recently, all of Björn Berg’s black and white illustrations from the three original books were restored and coloured by illustrator Matilda Ruta. The new colour editions have been published in Scandinavia, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.

Björn Berg 100 years

björn berg (1923–2008) was born in Bavaria and lived in New York for nine years of his childhood. During the 1940’s Björn studied at Konstfack, the University College of Arts. He also studied graphic art at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, and in Paris. In 1952 he was employed as an illustrator by Dagens Nyheter, the largest daily newspaper in Sweden. His association with Astrid Lindgren began when Astrid saw one of his drawings and thought that the boy in the picture looked like an Emil. She contacted Björn and sent him her manuscript. Björn wanted to familiarise himself with Emil’s environment and travelled down to Småland in order to systematically study houses, gardens, fences, gates and natural surroundings. He also visited museums where he studied old photographs of people until he began to get a feel for how it all looked.

Björn Berg illustrated all of Astrid Lindgren’s books about Emil in Lönneberga.

That Boy Emil

A picture book containing the stories of when Emil got his head got stuck in the soup tureen and that unfortunate Sunday when he hoisted little Ida up the flagpole.

New picture book editions 2023

New editions in original format (landscape) of That Boy Emil, Emil and the Bad Tooth, Emil’s Little Sister, Emil in the Soup Tureen and with more four-colour illustrations by Björn Berg.

Emil’s Little Sister

Emil often sat in the shed due to his mischief. Little Ida would like to spend some time in there too. But then she had to make a mischief of her own. She decided to come up with one. For the first time in picture book format.

Emil and the Bad Tooth

Lina, the maid at Katthult, had a terrible toothache. Emil decided he could help her get rid of the rotten tooth, instead of her going to the blacksmith to get it removed.

Emil in the Soup

Tureen

Emil just wanted the last of the lovely soup and that is how Emil got his head got stuck in the soup tureen and had to go see the doctor in Mariannelund