Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... Once Upon a Northern Nightby Jean E. Pendziwol
None Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. no reviews | add a review
AwardsNotable Lists
Juvenile Fiction.
Juvenile Literature.
HTML: In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and wonder of a northern winter night unfold, with images of a soft 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 poem describes the forest of snow-covered pines, where a deer and fawn nibble a frozen apple, and a great gray owl swoops down with its feathers trailing through the snow. Two snowshoe hares 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 mystical shimmering of northern lights - all framed by the frost on the window. Jean E. Pendziwol's lyrical poem reflects a deep appreciation of the magic of a northern winter night where, even as a child slumbers, the world outside does not rest but continues its own natural rhythms. Isabelle Arsenault'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. They simultaneously evoke winter's nighttime life and the cozy warmth and security of a beloved child's sleep. .No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)811.6Literature English (North America) American poetry 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
Pairing a gently descriptive narrative from author Jean E. Pendziwol with lovely artwork from illustrator Isabelle Arsenault, Once Upon a Northern Night is a wonderful tribute to the cold beauty and wild enchantment of a nighttime world under snow. The Northern Lights, which appear toward the conclusion of the book, add a wonderful magical feeling to both text and image. I sought this one out because I am an admirer of Isabelle Arsenault's work, and I was certainly not disappointed in that respect. The nighttime scenes are mysterious and lovely, but I think my favorite is the daytime tableaux that awaits the boy, when he looks out of his window. Recommended to Arsenault fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books about winter nights in the north. ( )