The Christmas Book Flood

Marvelously enchanting.

"People gift books/ as a sign of love, / of hope, during a dark time of year." Based around the Icelandic tradition of Jólabóka-flóðið, this picture book imagines a season in which people prepare to give books on Christmas Eve, and then read them the whole night through. Multitextured, collage-style spreads by Moss lean toward velvety evening hues as "darkness blankets the land," the aurora borealis swirling in the background. Amid a town's inhabitants, portrayed with varying skin tones, a brown-skinned child sporting a ladybug backpack also searches among the flood of new "stories to get lost in, / to laugh at, / to share." Attentive to timing ("Just hours remain!"), Kilgore builds excitement to Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, owls and other creatures lend a fanciful feel to the spreads, which alternate between wintry outdoor landscapes and cozy interiors. An atmospheric celebration of Christmas as a time to celebrate the written word. An author's note contextualizes Jólabókaflóðið. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

[Kilgore's] free-verse text sets the mood, a mix of awe and excitement as it describes the build-up to December 24 . . . Moss's gorgeous full-bleed collage illustrations appropriately feature printed paper, and their rich hues perfectly capture the beauty of the northern lights.