Mio, My Son

A magnificent and beautiful adventure tale about abandonment, about being little and having to shoulder great responsibility, about parenthood, good and evil, and about the power of love.

nine-year-old Bo Vilhelm Olsson, ‘Bosse’, lives with his foster parents who think he’s difficult and a nuisance. Bosse’s real mother died when he was born and his foster mother believes that his father was probably just a good-for-nothing.

Through a kind fruit-seller, a magical golden apple, and a genie in an empty bottle, Bosse travels to the Island of Green Meadows and the Land of Faraway. Bosse discovers his father the King, who has been looking for him for nine years. It turns out his name isn’t Bosse after all – but Mio.

In the Land that Lies Beyond the cruel Sir Kato the Knight resides. Here almost everything is black, and where the people are starved and miserable. Mio and his friend Jum-Jum accept the mission to fight against Kato and liberate the Land that Lies Beyond.

A magnificent and beautiful adventure tale about abandonment, about being little and having to shoulder great responsibility, about parenthood, good and evil, and about the power of love.

“Beautifully written... Mio, My Son is a splendid contribution to the fairy-tale shelf.” chicago sunday tribune

• First published in 1954

• Over 5 million books sold worldwide

• Translated into 41 languages

• Filmed in 1987

”Astrid Lindgren’s lyrical fairy tale language captivates and makes Mio, My Son a wonderful book to read or read aloud.” swedish library service, btj

“A tale of exquisite and rare beauty.” saturday review