The Christmas Book Flood
by Emily Kilgore (Author) Kitty Moss (Illustrator)
This lovely and lyrical picture book, based on a real Icelandic tradition, brings all the sparkle and anticipation of Christmas--and of the joys of reading--to the page.
The northern lights dance,
snow blankets the ground,
it's the Christmas season--so the Book Flood begins!
People plan and they dream,
and they visit the shops
for books to give loved ones, and families, and friends.
And when Christmas Eve comes,
they'll share magical stories,
curl up by the fire, and read, read, read, read . . .
With gorgeous artwork and a diverse cast of characters, Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss's The Christmas Book Flood is a surefire holiday classic.
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Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
"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.Hornbook
Review quotes
Kilgore depicts the Icelandic tradition of 'Christmas Book Flood, ' in loving, magical terms (more historical information is provided in an author's note). The art adds old-world charm while leading the narrative through blue-tinted winter nights and warm, homey interiors. Moss' lovely, heavily saturated colors seem to evoke old Currier and Ives prints with their detail to scenic landscapes, while collaged images of newsprintlike pages add texture and fun. These captivating illustrations depict a family of four (one parent and two children are brown-skinned; one parent is light-skinned) as the story's focus among a racially diverse country town . . . Marvelously enchanting. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Emily Kilgore is a teacher and the author of the picture book The Whatifs. She wrote The Christmas Book Flood by candlelight while in Sweden. She lives in Minnesota. Visit her website to learn more.
Kitty Moss is an artist, and the author and illustrator of Where Bone? She lives in Ireland. Visit her website to learn more.JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
