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En juldröm – och hur den blev sann
Tioåriga Effie har tröttnat på julen och alla klappar. Hennes mor berättar om Charles Dickens "En julsaga" och den natten drömmer Effie en vacker dröm. Det inspirerar hennes mamma att förvandla den jul som står för dörren till en skimrande överraskning.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1885
18 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,040 books10.6k followersLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day, including Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 20, 2021
“I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl…”
"Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" asked mamma, anxiously.”
“Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, and there isn't any more surprise about it.”
A lovely take on A Christmas Carol. A dream, a change in Christmas routine, some wishes, and the beautiful Christmas spirit of giving .
https://americanliterature.com/author...
"Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" asked mamma, anxiously.”
“Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, and there isn't any more surprise about it.”
A lovely take on A Christmas Carol. A dream, a change in Christmas routine, some wishes, and the beautiful Christmas spirit of giving .
https://americanliterature.com/author...
December 23, 2025
Effie exclaims she’s tired of Christmas as she sees her mother arranging the gifts. Her mother thinks she’s too spoiled and tells her to read A Christmas Carol, to learn why it is the happiest time of the year. After reading the story, Effie falls asleep and dreams as her imagination runs wild.
With Effie even being called Scrooge by her mother in the very beginning of the story, it’s made clear that this is very inspired by A Christmas Carol. Though it is aimed at a younger audience.
An interesting part of this story is how Effie claims she might be happier if she was poor like Cinderella. The message behind that is that it’s not the luxury of Christmas presents that makes you happy. It’s about being able to share your happiness with others.
It’s a short story with Christmas spirit. And a lovely heartwarming tribute to a Christmas classic.
With Effie even being called Scrooge by her mother in the very beginning of the story, it’s made clear that this is very inspired by A Christmas Carol. Though it is aimed at a younger audience.
An interesting part of this story is how Effie claims she might be happier if she was poor like Cinderella. The message behind that is that it’s not the luxury of Christmas presents that makes you happy. It’s about being able to share your happiness with others.
It’s a short story with Christmas spirit. And a lovely heartwarming tribute to a Christmas classic.
January 12, 2024
A very happy variation of Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” is presented here, with 10-year-old Effie instead of old Scrooge.
December 19, 2025
Naughty or Nice Christmas 2025 - nice
What it’s about: A spoiled, bored little rich girl has a wonderful dream and shares it with her mother and nurse. They help the little girl make her dream a reality and teach her that it’s better to give to receive.
What I thought: Although dated and a bit syrupy, it was still very charming and has a good message. I think this would be a lovely short story to read to younger children at Christmas time.
Random thoughts: I love doll houses, so I really enjoyed the description in the dream where the dolls in all the little houses went about their business, behaving better and more kindly to each other than real people do
What it’s about: A spoiled, bored little rich girl has a wonderful dream and shares it with her mother and nurse. They help the little girl make her dream a reality and teach her that it’s better to give to receive.
What I thought: Although dated and a bit syrupy, it was still very charming and has a good message. I think this would be a lovely short story to read to younger children at Christmas time.
Random thoughts: I love doll houses, so I really enjoyed the description in the dream where the dolls in all the little houses went about their business, behaving better and more kindly to each other than real people do
December 3, 2019
A beautiful tale about a girl who has an angelic experience which changes how she celebrates Christmas. Christmas is for giving.
December 31, 2020
A very touching story with a “Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens reference. It’s a nice story to read to kids to showcase that they should appreciate how fortunate they are and to think of others.
December 19, 2021
Vilken vacker och tidlös berättelse. Det finns inga riktiga tidsmarkörer vilket gör att berättelsen kan läsas varje jul så länge man lever om man vill utan att kännas gammal.
Jag älskar tanken och sensmoralen i berättelsen. Det mesta är dessutom väldigt vackert beskrivet.
Jag älskar tanken och sensmoralen i berättelsen. Det mesta är dessutom väldigt vackert beskrivet.
December 18, 2020
"Never give up your faith in the sweet old stories, even after you come to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth."
My poor teeth! I know Alcott writes pure, moralistic stories (looking at you, Little Women) but this one was so sweet it gave me cavities. It could've done with some frightening ghosts from "A Christmas Carol", if only to teach spoiled Effie a thing or two. But this tale brought the magic of Christmas alive, so there is that. 🌟
My poor teeth! I know Alcott writes pure, moralistic stories (looking at you, Little Women) but this one was so sweet it gave me cavities. It could've done with some frightening ghosts from "A Christmas Carol", if only to teach spoiled Effie a thing or two. But this tale brought the magic of Christmas alive, so there is that. 🌟
December 17, 2020
I guess I just don’t get on with Louisa May Alcott. Overly moralising and just boring writing. Not my kind of children’s story.
December 9, 2023
A wonderful story for teaching children the JOY of giving.
Read
December 6, 2019So sweet!
August 31, 2024
Reading this right after L.M Montgomery’s book left me feeling quite letdown with these 2 short stories. The first one was okay (about a horse named Rosa that talks for a bit), the second was sweet but not as touching as I felt with the Montgomery stories.
December 18, 2025
Begin the tale by explaining away Scrooge’s transformative process as a dream?
Spoilt little kid and family find a way to make themselves feel better for being loaded all wrapped up and floated in treacle.
Nope.
Spoilt little kid and family find a way to make themselves feel better for being loaded all wrapped up and floated in treacle.
Nope.
December 9, 2018
My mother in law gave me this 1901 copy about 10 years ago to share within the family. Her family read it at Christmas time when she was a little girl and her mother had written the family name and address inside the front cover.
The volume features two stories; A Christmas Dream and Baa! Baa! Both are stories of the act of serving and blessing those less fortunate. This is a common theme with Alcott and a great one to meditate on---then act upon---at Christmas time and all throughout the year!
The volume features two stories; A Christmas Dream and Baa! Baa! Both are stories of the act of serving and blessing those less fortunate. This is a common theme with Alcott and a great one to meditate on---then act upon---at Christmas time and all throughout the year!
December 21, 2016
So why did I, a grown man, decide to read a story for girls? Because I consider Louisa May Alcott one of the greatest writers ever to put pen to paper.
"Charming" is perhaps the most overused word to describe this author's writing but I don't think there's a better term.
A charming read it is.
"Charming" is perhaps the most overused word to describe this author's writing but I don't think there's a better term.
A charming read it is.
December 19, 2021
3.5 stjärnor
”Sluta aldrig tro på de gamla fina sagorna, inte ens när du insett att de bara är en trevlig skugga av en underbar sanning.”
En fin liten saga om en bortskämd flicka som är trött på julen, men lär sig om det vackra i generositet och att det viktigaste med julen är att ge till de som inte har det lika bra som hon själv. Den kändes stundtals lite överdrivet moraliserande, men några stunder grep mig ordentligt emotionellt och i sin helhet var det en rar liten berättelse.
”Sluta aldrig tro på de gamla fina sagorna, inte ens när du insett att de bara är en trevlig skugga av en underbar sanning.”
En fin liten saga om en bortskämd flicka som är trött på julen, men lär sig om det vackra i generositet och att det viktigaste med julen är att ge till de som inte har det lika bra som hon själv. Den kändes stundtals lite överdrivet moraliserande, men några stunder grep mig ordentligt emotionellt och i sin helhet var det en rar liten berättelse.
December 13, 2021
A sweet and heartwarming story about a girl who learns that Christmas is for giving.
December 14, 2025
What a sweet little story! High three.
October 29, 2019
The author write about a phenomenon I personally have never encountered: a child who doesn't like Christmas! The rich girl is bored of gifts and the predictability of the holiday. Then she reads A Christmas Carol and has the Christmas dream. I won't spoil it for you, but the dream has a lot to do with charity and helping the poor have a special Christmas.
There's nothing really original or outstanding here. Still, I gave this short story three stars because (spoiler alert) I loved the way the mom helped the daughter turn the dream into a reality and have this wonderfully imaginitive party for the poor girls.
There's nothing really original or outstanding here. Still, I gave this short story three stars because (spoiler alert) I loved the way the mom helped the daughter turn the dream into a reality and have this wonderfully imaginitive party for the poor girls.
January 9, 2021
“Never give up your faith in the sweet old stories, even after you come to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth.”
Louisa May Alcott's "A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to Be True" is a charming short Christmas story that is based loosely on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It positively exudes the spirit of the season, provokes laughter and may even bring a sentimental tear to the driest eye. If you’re looking for something to slow your family’s holiday pace while making special memories, this classic Christmas story is perfect for you!
Louisa May Alcott's "A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to Be True" is a charming short Christmas story that is based loosely on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It positively exudes the spirit of the season, provokes laughter and may even bring a sentimental tear to the driest eye. If you’re looking for something to slow your family’s holiday pace while making special memories, this classic Christmas story is perfect for you!
July 25, 2024
A sweet story of the privileged learning the true meaning of Christmas
December 13, 2025
Book Review: A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True by Louisa May Alcott
🎄It’s festive season—Mariah Carey has officially defrosted and is haunting every speaker with All I Want for Christmas. Amidst this seasonal soundtrack, I stumbled upon Louisa May Alcott’s A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True quite by happenstance at a friend’s house. I picked it up, and found it utterly charming.
📚 Alcott wrote this story for children, imagining that Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol might feel too heavy for younger readers. Her tale mirrors the same spirit but in a gentler, more accessible way.
The story follows a privileged little girl who is bored with the routine of Christmas. Nothing feels new or exciting—until she reads A Christmas Carol, dreams of the Christmas Ghost, and begins to celebrate the holiday differently.
✨ Christmas, at its heart, should be about spreading cheer, expressing gratitude, helping others, and showering the world with goodness. Yet, in reality, we often see commercial excess—homes stuffed with more items than anyone truly needs.
Alcott’s story reminds us that caring, sharing, and helping should be as natural as eating or sleeping. The season is a mirror, showing us not only what we are, but what we ought to be.
🎁 Like the little girl in the book who ultimately delights in sharing gifts, we too can embrace generosity. Even if we cannot give material presents, we can always share kind words and thoughtful deeds. That, perhaps, is the truest spirit of Christmas.
🍭This is a sweet must-read story not only for children but for adults too. After all, it is by Louisa May Alcott of Little Women fame-who can forget the tender scene where the sisters sit near the fireplace, celebrating Christmas while missing their father.
🎄It’s festive season—Mariah Carey has officially defrosted and is haunting every speaker with All I Want for Christmas. Amidst this seasonal soundtrack, I stumbled upon Louisa May Alcott’s A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True quite by happenstance at a friend’s house. I picked it up, and found it utterly charming.
📚 Alcott wrote this story for children, imagining that Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol might feel too heavy for younger readers. Her tale mirrors the same spirit but in a gentler, more accessible way.
The story follows a privileged little girl who is bored with the routine of Christmas. Nothing feels new or exciting—until she reads A Christmas Carol, dreams of the Christmas Ghost, and begins to celebrate the holiday differently.
✨ Christmas, at its heart, should be about spreading cheer, expressing gratitude, helping others, and showering the world with goodness. Yet, in reality, we often see commercial excess—homes stuffed with more items than anyone truly needs.
Alcott’s story reminds us that caring, sharing, and helping should be as natural as eating or sleeping. The season is a mirror, showing us not only what we are, but what we ought to be.
🎁 Like the little girl in the book who ultimately delights in sharing gifts, we too can embrace generosity. Even if we cannot give material presents, we can always share kind words and thoughtful deeds. That, perhaps, is the truest spirit of Christmas.
🍭This is a sweet must-read story not only for children but for adults too. After all, it is by Louisa May Alcott of Little Women fame-who can forget the tender scene where the sisters sit near the fireplace, celebrating Christmas while missing their father.
December 21, 2023
I loved that she took the idea of Charles Dickens learning the real meaning of Christmas and applied it in a magical way for children. It was a sweet short story that touched my heart. Effie was a likeable girl with a wonderful dream in her heart. I was so happy to see it come to life, and it inspired me.
December 20, 2023
Great Christmas story for children to learn the joy of Christmas. Definitely was inspired by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and in some ways an adaptation of the Carol's story but from a child's perspective.
December 24, 2021
Hoppfull och andlig julberättelse där vikten av givandet framhävs.
December 26, 2022
A grumpy child has a dream similar to Scrooge’s and tells her mom and they make this Christmas one to remember. Inspiring- wants the reader to give more to others - the poor/ orphaned during Christmas.
April 20, 2024
3.25⭐
December 11, 2024
Beautiful retelling of Scrooge!
December 1, 2025
Plačem.
December 17, 2025
More like 2.5, rounded up because 2 stars feels too aggressive for something I didn’t hate. Perhaps I lack Christmas spirit? 🤔
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews