Norths: Two Suitcases and a Stroller Around the Circumpolar World

McCreesh, an artist from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, gives readers an enjoyable graphic memoir of her series of artist residencies in Finland, Russia, Greenland, and Iceland from November 2016 to May 2017. She raised money for the trip by collecting donations in exchange for hand-drawn postcards mailed along the way, which are collected here. She created a postcard every day, each one a snapshot of her thoughts, reflections, and experiences as she traveled north of the 60th parallel in winter with her husband, Pat, and toddler, Riel. The trip was an adventure, but it was also riddled with frustrations. For McCreesh, the challenge is juggling her artistry with family and logistical planning for each leg of the trip. For Pat, it’s finding entertainment, community, and activity for himself and Riel. Along the way, the trio endure the flu, make new friends, walk many miles, and grow to appreciate their own home. The postcards’ black-and-white images of landscapes, architecture, and people give readers a vivid sense of place, and McCreesh’s accompanying notes are raw and honest, capturing both joyful and painful moments and making the book a worthwhile journey for readers too. (Apr.)