Children's Fiction Bedtime & Dreams
Once Upon a Northern Night
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2013
- Category
- Bedtime & Dreams, General, Seasons
- Recommended Age
- 4 to 7
- Recommended Grade
- k to 2
- Recommended Reading age
- 4 to 7
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781554981380
- Publish Date
- Aug 2013
- List Price
- $21.99
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781554984022
- Publish Date
- Jul 2013
- List Price
- $16.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Once Upon a Northern Night has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.
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.
About the authors
JEAN E. PENDZIWOL est l’autrice primée de nombreux livres pour enfants, dont Par une belle nuit d’hiver, finaliste pour un Prix du Gouverneur général et pour le prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance. Née et élevée dans le nord-ouest de l’Ontario, elle s’inspire de la culture, de l’histoire et de la géographie de la région pour écrire ses récits.
Jean E. Pendziwol is the award-winning author of numerous books for children, including Skating Wild on an Inland Sea, winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and Once Upon a Northern Night, a finalist for the Governor General's Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Born and raised in northwestern Ontario, she draws on the culture, history and geography of the region for inspiration for her stories.
Jean E. Pendziwol's profile page
Isabelle Arsenault is a very talented Quebec illustrator who has won an impressive number of awards and has achieved international recognition. She has illustrated Migrant by Maxine Trottier, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a finalist for the Governor General’s Award; Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear, winner of the Governor General’s Award; Le coeur de monsieur Gauguin by Marie-Danielle Croteau, winner of the Governor General’s Award; and My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, a finalist for the Governor General’s Award. She has also illustrated Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean Pendziwol and Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, forthcoming from Groundwood. Isabelle has won the Grand Prix for illustration (Magazines du Québec) for six years running. She lives with her family in Montreal.
Awards
- Runner-up, Prix des Mini-Zinzins Cycle 3
- Short-listed, TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
- Short-listed, Amelia Frances Howard‐Gibbon Award
- Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
- Short-listed, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Picture Book Award
- Short-listed, The Governor General's Literary Awards-Children's Literature- Text
- Commended, Quill & Quire Books of the Year
- Commended, Toronto Public Library's First and Best
Editorial Reviews
This is a lovely wintry bedtime story, best for sharing one-on-one.
School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
A reverent ode to the magic and wonder of an icy winter night.
Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A sweet and lovely tale of the magic of waking up to a world 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
User Reviews
A gentle bedtime story
Winter narrates a loving lullaby while snow and frost transform the outdoor scene as a child sleeps. Arsenault's whimsical art is understated in charcoal tones with lots of white. Each double page spread features one colour; a bit of green or red or blue. The animals are lively, full of activity. The hares have rosy-cheeks like the sleeping child. Magical.Other titles by
Les exploits d’Emma
The Best Emma Ever
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea
When I Listen to Silence
I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree
Marja's Skis
The Tale of Sir Dragon
Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons)
Tale of Sir Dragon, The
Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and Dragons)
Once Upon a Dragon
Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons)
The Red Sash
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Colette, Albert and Maya
La souris qui portait une maison sur son dos
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