OTTO AND THE SECRET LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

Name: OTTO AND THE SECRET LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS
Author: Nora Surojegin
ISBN: 978-178250-323-1

by Nora Surojegin ; illustrated by Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin ; translated by Jill G. Timbers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 2016

An intriguing read-aloud for younger children and an entertaining choice for independent readers who like fantasy. (Fiction....

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A white, elflike man named Otto searches for a mysterious thing called Christmas in this illustrated novel first published in Finland.

Otto finds a postcard on the beach with the words, “Wishing you light in the midst of winter, and a joy-filled Christmas season.” He doesn’t know what Christmas means, but he would dearly love to have more light in the winter, so he sets out to the north on a classic quest journey. The text uses complex sentence structures, rich vocabulary, and excellent dramatic pacing, with a different imaginative encounter in each chapter. Otto meets all sorts of creatures that offer help and advice: Kekri, a mossy monster who is king of the forest, furry creatures called mupples, talking trees, leaf fairies, and a giant called Booming Burl. Otto also meets real animals, including a helpful bear and a talkative reindeer. Finally he meets Father Yule, who answers Otto’s questions about Christmas and sends him home on the back of an owl. Father Yule tells Otto that Christmas means friends and happy memories and that “these things brighten the darkness of winter.” Full-color illustrations in a soft-focus, mysterious style are interspersed throughout the story, with lots of full-page illustrations as well as smaller ones. Every spread has some sort of illustration to help keep readers engaged.

An intriguing read-aloud for younger children and an entertaining choice for independent readers who like fantasy. (Fiction. 5-10)

Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2016

ISBN: 978-178250-323-1

Page Count: 108

Publisher: Floris

Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
OLWEN FINDS HER WINGS
by Nora Surojegin ; illustrated by Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin

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PLAYING WITH LANTERNS

by Wang Yage ; illustrated by Zhu Chengliang ; translated by Helen Wang ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 7, 2021

A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season.

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A colorful wintry tale ushers in Chinese New Year over two weeks.

In this picture book, the narrator recounts with nostalgia an observance of the traditional New Year in rural northern China. The snow-covered village bustles with activity as folks venture out to greet relatives and friends. “On the third day, uncles started giving LANTERNS” refers to an old custom in provincial Shaanxi—especially among maternal uncles. Palpable and immediate are Zhao Di’s eager anticipation and the care with which she “walk[s] through the snow with her lantern in case she slipped or the candle blew out in the wind.” Simple yet vivid close-ups depict Zhao Di and her friends, bundled head to toe and comparing lantern designs—accordion, watermelon, etc.—while braving the cold and a bunch of rowdy boys. All too soon, the 15th day arrives, signaling the end of the New Year celebrations. In a pivotal spread that shows Zhao Di sitting with her dog and chickens, readers are granted an interior view of the architecture and layout of a rustic farmhouse. In addition, the villagers’ various clothing styles, headdresses, and skin tones suggest the region’s diverse ethnicities and socio-economic landscapes. As the story concludes with the obligatory smashing and burning of the lanterns, Zhao Di comforts herself with the hopeful thought of lighting new lanterns next year.

A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-5420-2984-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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HOW TO CATCH A LOVEOSAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2022

Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses.

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An elusive new quarry leads the How To Catch… kids on a merry chase through a natural history museum.

Taking at least a step away from the “hunters versus prey” vibe of previous entries in the popular series, the racially diverse group of young visitors dashes through various museum halls in pursuit of the eponymous dino—whose quest to “spread kindness and joy ’round the world” takes the form of a mildly tumultuous museum tour. In most of Elkerton’s overly sweet, color-saturated scenes, only portions of the Loveosaurus, who is purple and covered with pink hearts, are visible behind exhibits or lumbering off the page. But the children find small enticements left behind, from craft supplies to make cards for endangered species to pictures of smiley faces, candy heart–style personal notes (“You Rock!” “Give Hugs”), and, in the hall of medieval arms and armor, a sign urging them to “Be Honest Be Kind.” The somewhat heavy-handed lesson comes through loud and clear. “There’s a message, he wants us to think,” hints Walstead to clue in more obtuse readers…and concluding scenes of smiling people young and otherwise exchanging hugs and knuckle bumps, holding doors for a wheelchair rider, and dancing through clouds of sparkles indicate that they, at least, have gotten it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses. (Picture book. 5-7)