Pom and Pim

by Lena Landström, Olof Landström (Illustrator)

Pom and Pim's day is full of ups and downs, and luck, both good and bad. Is eating a huge icecream truly a good idea? Is it really bad luck that it's raining? Or is it good luck?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Storytime, Friendship, International

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Lena Landström, born 1943, is a Swedish author of children's books.

Most of her books are written in collaboration with her husband, Olof Landström. Together with Peter Cohen, Lena and Olof started working on cartoons for TV2 in 1972. The films Kalles klätterträd, Farbrorn som inte vill va stor, Magister Flykt och Herr Bohm och sillen have become award-winning classics.

Reviews

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much here, but my kid enjoyed it and called it the good luck book. A bit too simple for her even though she's three, I feel like more of a toddler book, but interesting to see how something with so few words could still have such a strong Scandinavian sensibility. Basically just a series of good and bad things happening, but the good ones are somewhat a matter of kid interpretation, as in it starting to rain being the good news, once you've got a makeshift rain slicker for your toy all ready!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An only child and her favorite toy learn lessons about luck; unusual illustrations earn the third star.

[Sebastian HM · Rating 5 out of 5]

What was your favorite part?
When he had Ice Cream, but had too much and said, "Bad Luck!"

[Tracy Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and funny!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pom heads outside, the sun is shining and the day is beautiful. Pim, a stuffed toy, goes out too. But the day isn’t completely full of good luck, in fact Pom and Pim experience a lot of bad luck along the way. Somehow though, these bad moments turn into good ones. So when Pom falls down, there is money on the sidewalk and they get to have ice cream! The ice cream gives Pom a tummy ache, but then there is a balloon in the room. The balloon pops when Pom takes it outside, but it’s just in time to make a raincoat for Pim before the rain comes. Then it’s a lovely rainy day.

Landstrom plays with optimism in this book. Pom goes from merry to dejected in moments, just like any toddler, bouncing right back again with the next new distraction or change. The story is very simply told with the illustrations telling much of Pom’s reaction to the described situations. Pom is never given a gender, making this a book that will speak to all genders equally and children will see themselves reflected on the page.

The illustrations clearly reflect Pom’s emotions, as Pom changes moods from one page to the next. They are also wonderfully simple which fits into this story very nicely. The result is a book for toddlers that they will understand and relate to.

Grab this one when looking at emotions with toddlers, its everyday events will be something that any child has probably experienced. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all depends on how you look at things, as this picture book from Sweden clearly shows. When Pom and his stuffed animal friend Pim head out for the day, a series of events that seem to be good luck turn into bad luck and vice versa. Eating ice cream, for instance, can be great, but if it gives someone a tummy ache, that is bad luck. Having a raincoat when it's raining turns out to be very good luck. I really enjoyed the wryness of the book's text and the sunny illustrations. What is more: The book made me think hard about I react to life's events. Perhaps good luck eventually turns bad, and bad luck eventually turns into something good.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pom and Pim are a child/stuffed animal duo who encounter back to back spells of good and bad luck. The text reminded me of the oral stories in which the audience is faked out over and over again when seemingly bad situations are presented in positive perspectives and vice versa.

The emotive illustrations perfectly support the text. PreK-2.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic tale of good luck/bad luck: Pom finds money (good luck!) and buys an ice cream (which he shares with Pim of course); but he eats too much and gets a tummy ache (bad luck).

Husband and wife collaborators Olof (illustrator) and Lena Landstrom (author) live in Stockholm (Olof was born in Finland).

Translated by Julia Marshall, edited by Penelope Todd
Gecko Press, 2014

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute and had an early version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day going on. There wasn't much as far as depth, but its good for the age group.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like "Fortunately" by Remy Charlip or "Fortunately, Unfortunately" by Michael Foreman for the younger crowd. It's a beautiful day - what luck! - so Pom takes Pim for a walk. Pom trips over a rock and lands face first. Bad luck. But Pom finds money! What luck! This would be a fun story to visually plot out with young ones, noting the highs and lows, and would be a good mentor text.

[carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pom and Pim go outside. It' s hot. The sun is shining. What luck! Pom and Pim' s day full of ups and downs, and luck both good and bad. Is eating a huge ice-cream truly a good idea? Is it really bad luck that it' s raining? Or is it good luck...?

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conceptually similar to Jeff Mack's Good News, Bad News, I like this for its simplicity and charm. The non-gendered main character is effective and this is a cute book for emergent readers.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and beautiful.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightful book translated originally from Swedish. It's a lot like Fortunately, Unfortunately by Charlip- just much shorter. (or another is "That's Good, That's bad". simple drawings.

[Nanci Booher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't hate it, didn't love it. A few of the illustrations made me giggle. A sweet story.

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original, cute, and very few words to make this story a great conversation starter with any 3 year old.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. A good news, bad news story with a sweet girl and her treasured stuffed animal.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, charming tale of good/bad luck.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another precious book by husband and wife team Lena and Olof Landström, he of another favorite of mine, Boris's Glasses. Both are darling stories about the ways we choose to see and experience life.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, picture book on bad vs good luck. simplistic enough for a young audience

[Benji Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is your Good News, Bad News of 2014.

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a good luck/bad luck book, written on a very simple level for very young children.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect in it's simplicity

[Emerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were the best part. The story wasn't memorable for me.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty cute, one of those "everything happens for a reason books, even when it looks bad, it can turn out good," but where did the balloon come from?

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and repetitive language, simple art, told from a toddler's perspective, yet lots of surprises and fun. This would make a very good story time read-aloud.

[Rebecca Millerjohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pom and pim, what luck! Look on both the bright and sad side of things. A great story of friendship, stuffed animals, toys, or luck. There is even a rainstorm, a balloon, and an icecream cone.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

bad luck, good luck for a small child.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and charming import for the preschool set.

[hhhhhhhhh]

Teaches reframing when things look bad