With Halloween behind us...barely...it's time to turn the attention on upcoming winter and the big batch of holidays. After all, it's only four weeks to Thanksgiving and our Christmas tree going up. So, I'm going to use the next weeks to step back, enjoy nods toward the upcoming season, and still stay relaxed. December is usually a bit more hectic, anyway.
Today's read appears to be a magical tale circling around the cold North with its snow and ice. I am looking forward to snowy days. So, I'm ready to open this one up and see what it holds.
NORTH
A Magical Friendship Story
by J.R. Buchta
Illustrated by Erin O'Leary Brown
Warbucks
Picture Book
42 pages
ages 3 to 7
"Long before anyone can remember,
something happened that
no one will ever forget."
With a swirl of snowflakes, a shimmer of starlight, and a dazzling dance of color, the North Wind, the North Star, and the Northern Lights unite their magical powers to create something truly delightful-a host of vibrant, whimsical new friends!
At first, chaos whirls through the arctic skies and nothing goes quite right. But these Three Old Friends don't give up. Through teamwork and a little northern magic, they finally pull off a heartwarming success: NEW FRIENDS!
Dive into the magic and join the celebration as an unforgettable gathering of playful arctic animals and cheerful newcomers come together.
Can you guess who the merry, toy-making friends might be?
Here's a hint: they are full of holiday cheer and love spreading joy!
From the author of the award-winning book, The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story, a prequel that imagines how the North Pole Elves came to be.
Why Readers love NORTH: A Magical Friendship Story:
- A new family read aloud tradition for readers around the world
- Teaches kids the value of friendship and kindness that will last throughout the year
- A feel-good tale for readers of all ages (0-102)
- Makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for children, parents, grandparents, and teachers
- Screen-free family time during the cold winter months and holiday season
MY TIDBITS
Winter magic slides into Christmas tones with fairytale magic.
The book begins with three friends: the North Wind, North Star, and Northern Lights. They entertain the animals and spend time together until one of them realizes that it'd be fun to invite other animals to join in as well. This leads to some magic and unexpected results.
This is one of those tales to snuggle up into a blanket with and enjoy. The fantasy and imagination remain high the entire way through, letting dreams soar. The three friends are presented majestically and with kindness as the illustrations make each one an imposing sight in its own right. The friendship is golden, which adds a nice undertone of goodness as the story unfolds. The mystical, natural atmosphere holds through the beginning, but takes a sudden, slight turn into more humor before, later, morphing into more lighthearted, playful Christmas notes.
The illustrations are nicely done and lure in. These change a bit in style right along with the tone of the tale. The text flows right along and fits the age group well. This makes a nice read-aloud and works for group settings with eager listeners.
For anyone wanting a magical, Christmas-y fairytale, which takes a more indirect and original dive into the holiday, this is worth picking up and enjoying.
