Alvar, Björna and Lallo live in Krokskogen, which is located in Tänndalen. Krokskogen is called Krokskogen precisely because all the mountain birches that grow here are completely crooked and winding. But why are the trees so crooked? It's an exciting story and you're going to hear it now.
Long ago, on the slopes of Storkläppen where Krokskogen is located, musk oxen lived together with lynxes and bears. At that time, the mountain birches were tall and straight and swayed majestically in the wind. Here lived Alvar, who was then just a small musk ox calf.
For the most part, everything was peaceful and happy in the mountain forest, but there was one thing that Alvar and the other animal children were afraid of: the Snow Monster, who lived beyond Swan Lake somewhere in the valley between Vättafjället and Storviglen. No one had seen it, but sometimes you could hear a dull rumble over the mountains, and then you knew it was the Snow Monster that was ravaging around.
One winter the Snow Monster wreaked havoc more than usual. It rumbled and roared and you could see snow smoke rising like big clouds into the sky. The musk oxen began to worry. Imagine if the Snow Monster would make it all the way to the safe slopes of Storkläppen! The musk oxen decided to ask the trees for help.
The musk oxen went and talked to the trees. When they returned, they told Alvar and the other animals in the mountain forest to hide in their nests and huts. Soon a terrible crashing and roaring was heard and it felt like the entire mountainside was shaking. Then everything became quiet and peaceful again. When Alvar carefully looked out the door, he couldn't believe his eyes. The trees that had just been completely straight and tall were now crooked like spaghetti and twisted tightly together. Right through the forest there were fun forest paths that swung both this way and that. Now the animal children could continue to play and frolic in the forest and be completely safe - the Snow Monster could never come in here!
This strange thing happened a long time ago, when Alvar was little. Now Alvar is much older, and his mischievous friends Björna and Lallo have moved into Krokskogen too.
- Come on, Bear! The last one down is an old musk ox!
Lallo sets off on his snowboard and aims for a newly built jump between two mountain birches. Björna fastens her ski boots and is soon catching up. The snow whirls as the two friends swing, jump and fly down through Krokskogen. Soon they skid in front of Alvar's Bakery where hot chocolate and buns are served.
- So, I love Krokskogen! says Björna between bites as they sit around the fire and talk to Alvar. Lallo, who is almost always happy and bubbly, sits unusually quiet and looks pensive.
- Alvar, can you tell me the story of the Snow Monster again, he says suddenly. Alvar tells the story from when he was little again, as he has done many times before.
"I've been thinking a lot about the Snow Monster," says Lallo. "Nobody's seen it. What could it be? What if it's a mistake, that the Snow Monster isn't as mean as we think?"
- Ugh! Don't think about it, says Alvar. We're safe and sound here in Krokskogen. We should leave the snow monster alone. It's calmer that way.
There is silence for a moment. Everyone is chewing on their buns and slurping on their chocolate. Suddenly Björna puts down her cup with a bang and stands up.
"We have to find out the truth about the Snow Monster!" she says firmly.
And it's usually the case with friends Alvar, Björna and Lallo, that when Björna has decided on something, it becomes so. And very true. The next day the three friends are standing outside Alvar's Bakery. Alvar has somewhat reluctantly promised to accompany his young friends to show them the way over the mountain, Björna has packed her backpack full of nice-to-have things and Lallo is as excited and eager as usual.
Now they must once and for all find out the truth behind the mystery of the Snow Monster. This will be the big adventure of the winter!
A whole bunch of awesome kids have submitted their own sequel to this story. The author of the best sequel was honored with honors and a nice prize. Her name is Ella Bergman, she is nine years old and you can read her sequel further down this page!
Are you ready to go? Björna asks. I'm as ready as I can be, says Lallo. But are you ready Alvar? Björna asks. Yes, I'm just going to go to the bathroom one last time, says Alvar and leaves. While Alvar is in the bathroom, we can have a snowball fight, says Lallo and is ready with a snowball. Sure... Björna doesn't have time to say more before she gets a snowball in the face. Oops, says Lallo. Now you're going to get it! Björna shouts and gets a snowball ready. Then she throws it at Lallo who also gets it in the face.
Lallo and Björna throw many snowballs at each other. After a while Alvar comes out again. Just then Björna happens to throw a snowball and it hits Alvar right in the face. Hehehe, oops, forgive me, says Björna a little shyly. It doesn't matter. I haven't had a snowball hit me since I was as old as you, says Alvar and picks up some snow. But I won't give up before I've thrown it at you, Alvar laughs and throws the snow at them. All three start laughing.
They lie in the snow for a long time before Björna says that it is time to leave now if they are going to make it. They get up from the snow and start walking. They walk for a long time before Alvar says: my legs can't take it anymore. Unfortunately I have to go home. No, we can set up our tent and spend the night here, says Lallo. Lallo takes out the tent while Björna finds a good place to set up the tent. Alvar sits on a stump and starts to make a fire so they can grill sausages for dinner. This is where we will have the tent! Björna says and thinks she has found the best place. Lallo and Björna help each other set up the tent. After a while Alvar has to come and help with the tent. Because things are not going so well for Lallo and Björna.
When the three friends have set up the tent, they start grilling sausages and singing songs together. When they have finished eating, Björna says: shouldn't we grill marshmallows too. Huh, do you have them? I have them too, says Lallo. Lallo and Björna take marshmallows out of their backpacks and put three on each stick. After they have grilled the marshmallows and eaten them, it is time to go to sleep. They go into the tent and put on their pajamas. All three say good night to each other and fall asleep soundly in their sleeping bags.
They wake up early to the tent wobbling a little. Oh no! What if it's the snow monster! Lallo shouts in horror. Björna carefully steps out of the tent to investigate. But luckily it wasn't the snow monster. But an elk that seems to think the tent is some kind of food. Björna shouts: you don't have to be scared Lallo! It's just an elk that thinks our tent is food! Come out now! Lallo and Alvar carefully step out of the tent. They are relieved when they see that it's just an elk like Björna said. Lallo is just about to pet the elk when Björna accidentally bumps into the elk so that it gets scared and runs away. Lallo is disappointed but quickly changes his mind when he sees what Alvar has brought. It's freshly baked bread with apricot jam from Alvar's bakery. Lallo runs to Alvar but stumbles on the way in the deep snow. Oops! Says Alvar and laughs a little. Here, shall I help you up? Yes, thank you, says Lallo and gets help up. Björna has already cut up the bread which is now lying on a piece of wood so it doesn't lie in the snow. Here, says Björna and gives Lallo a piece with a little jam on it. Thanks, says Lallo and accepts the slice of bread. Well, there's one thing I forgot to tell you about the snow monster, says Alvar secretly. What? Tell me, says Björna curiously. No, don't tell me, stammers Lallo in horror. Well, this is how the snow monster senses if people are coming to his little cave. Huh?! Says Björna. But then he'll be prepared and know we're coming, says Björna. Lallo looks more terrified now than he was before. But in that case, I've decided to go there anyway. Says Björna. Then it will be even cooler and more exciting to go there than it was before. So hurry up now so we can start walking!
Björna is quick and has already packed his things in a bag. What if we don't come back, Lallo thinks. It's as if Alvar has read his mind because he says: it will be fine. I don't think anything will happen. But it doesn't help much because Lallo is still scared. What does he mean by he believes? Lallo wonders but doesn't dare ask. So Alvar says again: our ancestors are watching over us all the time. So we don't have to worry. They'll take care of us. That makes Lallo feel safer inside and start packing his things in a bag. Alvar doesn't have that many things with him so it goes pretty quickly for him.
When everyone has packed their things, it is time to take down the tent. Björna and Lallo help each other take down the tent. When they have done so, they travel again across the snowy ground. The snow is very deep. They walk and walk. Finally, after a long time, they finally arrive. The snow monster lived beyond Swan Lake somewhere in the valley between Vättafjället and Storviglen. There was a large entrance. The icicles hung down by the entrance. Should we go in? Björna whispered. I-I don't know if I-I dare, Lallo stammered. Come on now. Don't be a coward, Björna urged. Lallo didn't want to be a coward. He certainly didn't want to show it to Björna. Okay then, Lallo replied. I won't go in anyway, Alvar said. My legs can't take it. Okay, what a shame, Björna and Lallo answer with the same mouth. Björna and Lallo go in. How lucky I don't have to go first anyway.
When Björna and Lallo have entered a little way, they see something they have never seen before. The cave is in all colors. And in an armchair, the snow monster is sitting reading a newspaper. Björna and Lallo gape in surprise. The snow monster looks up and smiles broadly. Hello there! Says the snow monster. Hh-hello, Lallo stammers. Hello, says Björna. What is your name? My name is Elisabet, anyway, replies the snow monster. My name is Björna and this is my friend Lallo, replies Björna. How nice to meet you, replies Elisabet. Elisabet and Björna shake hands. When they do, you can't see Björna's hand. It has drowned in Elisabet's fluffy hand. Why are you here? Elisabet asks curiously. We came here to see if you were mean, but you seem kind! Can we feel your white fur a little? It looks so fluffy, says Björna. Sure, can you, says Elisabet. Now Alvar has also arrived. Hello Alvar! How nice to meet again, says Elisabet. Well, hello Elisabet. Says Alvar. Wait a minute… do you know each other? Lallo asks suspiciously. Yes, it was Alvar who helped me find this cave, says Elisabet. But, then we went all the way here for nothing. And I got scared for nothing. Why? Says Lallo. Ha ha ha. Yes, Lallo, sometimes there are no answers to the questions, says Alvar.
Alvar, Lallo and Björna stay with Elisabet until it starts to get dark. They don't have to walk the long way back home. Instead, they get a ride on Elisabet's back. When they are back in Krokskogen and have slipped off Elisabet, they thank her for the ride and go into their houses. When Lallo lies down in his mossy bed, he thinks: sometimes Alvar is a bit strange...
Final
Fun children's activities both summer and winter.
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Climbing, adventure trail and bush fun with our mascot Bärra Blåbär.