Arctic White

Smith (Mother Goose’s Pajama Party) follows a child and grandfather of unspecified indigenous background on an ice-fishing excursion in the Arctic, where “everything is a shade of white.” As they travel the tundra, the girl wishes for more color, a wish later granted by the appearance of the Northern Lights. Bundled up in parkas, the girl and her grandfather embark on a nighttime journey over the snow “past the icy sea and sleeping seals. Even footprints are white in the Arctic.” Working in watercolor and ink, White (The Maine Coon’s Haiku) infuses the frozen world with a sense of community, but despite some tender images between girl and grandfather, the overall vagueness and superficiality regarding their heritage strikes an off note. Ages 4–8. [em]Author’s agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, Herman Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Jan.) [/em]