The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Children's Illustrated Classics S.)

The book is about Nils Holgersson who is punished for his unkind behaviour to animals by being transformed into a boy no larger than an elf. The first part tells how Nils flies north on the back of a large gander, and of the exciting adventures that befall him once the wild geese have learned to trust him. The sequel starts twelve years before nils sets out on his travels and tells the story of Grayskin the elk and Helpless, the grass-snake, before returning to Nils once more, and old Akka, leader of the wild geese. Eventually Nils goes home, regaining his human form, a boy now wise enough to realize how important it is to be kind to all animals and birds.