Synopses & Reviews
In this exquisite lullaby, a parent paints a picture of a northern winter night for their sleeping child, describing the beauty of a snowfall, the wild animals that appear in the garden, the twinkling stars, the gentle rhythm of the northern lights and the etchings of frost on the window pane.
As the young child sleeps, wrapped in a downy blanket, a snowflake falls, and then another and another. The parent describes the forest of snow-covered pines, seeing a deer and fawn nibbling a frozen apple, a great gray owl swooping down with its feathers trailing through the snow. Two snowshoe hare scamper and play under the watchful eyes of a little fox, and a tiny mouse scurries in search of a midnight feast. When the snow clouds disappear, stars light up the sky, followed by the magical shimmering of the northern lights andmdash; all framed by the frost on the window.
Jean E. Pendziwoland#8217;s lyrical poem reflects a deep appreciation of a northern winter night, a desire to share it with her sleeping child and the love that underlies that wish.
Isabelle Arsenaultand#8217;s spare, beautifully rendered illustrations, with their subtle but striking use of color, make us feel that we too are experiencing the enchantment of that northern night.
Review
Praise for
Migrant:"Moving, inventive, and thoughtful . . ." and#151; Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The lilting, whispering rhythm and tone of Pendziwols poem, along with the accompanying serene landscape, make this a perfect snuggly bedtime read-aloud. A sweet and lovely tale of waking up to a world magically transformed by winter. —
Booklist Starred Review
"[A] mixture of magic, wildlife and deep comfort." — New York Times
"A beautiful, lyrical celebration of northern light and night." — Kirkus, starred review
"A reverent ode to the magic and wonder of an icy winter night." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This is a lovely wintry bedtime story, best for sharing one-on-one." — School Library Journal, starred review
Review
Finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for Children (Text)Finalist for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award
Finalist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Picture Book Award
Finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
Toronto Public Library First and Best
Quill and Quire Books of the Year
"[A] mixture of magic, wildlifeand#160;and deep comfort." and#151; New York Times
"A sweet and lovely tale of waking up to a world magically transformed by winter. and#151; Booklist, starredreview
"A beautiful, lyrical celebration of northern light and night." and#151; Kirkus, starred review
"A reverent ode to the magic and wonder of an icy winter night." and#151; Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This is a lovely wintry bedtime story, best for sharing one-on-one." and#151; School Library Journal, starred review
About the Author
Jean E. Pendziwol is the author of several highly acclaimed picture books, including
Dawn Watch and
The Red Sash, illustrated by Nicolas Debon, and
Marjaand#8217;s Skis, illustrated by Jirina Marton. She was inspired to write this book by the long but beautiful northern nights in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she lives with her family.
Isabelle Arsenault is a very talented Quebec illustrator, who has garnered an impressive number of awards and international recognition. She has illustrated several books, including Le coeur de monsieur Gauguin (Governor Generaland#8217;s Award) and My Letter to the World and Other Poems (Governor Generaland#8217;s Award Finalist, IRA Childrenand#8217;s Choices), and she has won the Grand Prix for illustration (Magazines du Quand#233;bec) for six years running.