本书写的是一个名叫尼尔斯的14岁男孩，他的父母都是善良、勤劳却又十分贫困的农民。而尼尔斯不爱读书学习，总是喜欢调皮捣蛋，捉弄小动物，惹是生非。一个初春，他在家里因为捉弄一个小精灵而被变成一个拇指般大的小人儿。因为担心家里的雄鹅跟着大雁群飞走而跳到了鹅背上，不想却被雄鹅带走。小尼尔斯骑在鹅背上，跟随着大雁走南闯北，周游瑞典各地，看到了各色奇峰异川、旖旎风光，学习了祖国的地理历史，听了许多故事传说，也饱尝了不少风险和苦难。在漫游中，他从旅伴和其他动物身上学到了不少优点，同时也在与他人的接触中，逐渐改正了自己淘气调皮的缺点，培养了助人为乐的优秀品德，同时也对学习萌生了无限的兴趣。当他重返家乡时，不仅重新变成了一个高大漂亮的男孩子，而且成了一个温柔、善良、乐于助人且又勤劳的好孩子。

THE BOY
AKKA FROM KEBNEKAISE
THE WONDERFUL JOURNEY OF NILS
GLIMMINGE CASTLE
THE GREAT CRANE DANCE ON KULLABERG
IN RAINY WEATHER
THE STAIRWAY WITH THE THREE STEPS
BY RONNEBY RIVER
KARLSKRONA
THE TRIP TO OLAND
OLAND'S SOUTHERN POINT
THE BIG BUTTERFLY
LITTLE KARL'S ISLAND
TWO CITIES
THE LEGEND OF SMALAND
THE CROWS
THE OLD PEASANT WOMAN
FROM TABERG TO HUSKVARNA
THE BIG BIRD LAKE
ULVASA-LADY
THE HOMESPUN CLOTH
THE STORY OF KARR AND GRAYSKIN
THE WIND WITCH
THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE
THUMBIETOT AND THE BEARS
THE FLOOD
DUNFIN
STOCKHOLM
GORGO, THE EAGLE
ON OVER GASTRIKLAND
A DAY IN HALSINGLAND
IN MEDELPAD
A MORNING IN ANGERMANLAND
WESTBOTTOM AND LAPLAND
OSA, THE GOOSE GIRL, AND LITTLE MATS
WITH THE LAPLANDERS
HOMEWARD BOUND!
LEGENDS FROM HARJEDALEN
VERMLAND AND DALSLAND
THE TREASURE ON THE ISLAND
THE JOURNEY TO VEMMINGHOG
HOME AT LAST
THE PARTING WITH THE WILD GEESE
TABLE OF PRONUNCIATION