Review by Booklist Review
In this rare rendition of a French-Canadian tale, a mysterious stranger dressed in the clothes of another century invites a group of low-spirited fur traders deep in the Ontario wilderness to climb aboard a flying canoe for a Christmas Eve journey home to Montreal. In broad, atmospheric moon-and-firelit aerial views, the travelers glide through the sky over Fort Mackinac and other landmarks, arriving at last to city streets crowded with residents on their way to Midnight Mass. Suspecting that the canoe owner may have a dark purpose, the canny traders converse in the sign language of the Indians. When, over Montreal, the sight of his daughter on the arm of an officer prompts a bellow of rage from one voyageur, they quickly wreck the canoe on the church's spire prompting the stranger to shriek and vanish. It all ends well, Kimmel concludes, and as proof that miracles happen notes a piece of the canoe remains preserved in Montreal's Basilica of Notre Dame. Is there any reason to doubt? Source notes and glossary conclude this well-told tale.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-A group of fur traders spends a miserable Christmas in the remote Canadian woods. Certain that "Pere Noel does not come here," the voyageurs are shocked when a mysterious stranger appears and offers to send them back to Montreal if they promise not to speak until they reach their own homes. They agree and pack their canoe, which rises into the air, whizzing them by the landmarks of their long journey. They communicate via sign language until they arrive in Montreal, where one trader cannot contain a verbal protest when he sees his daughter walking with a military man. Just before the stranger sends them back, the fur traders crash the canoe and fall safely to the ground, home at last. This French-Canadian folktale is brought to luminous life by the San Soucis. The atmospheric artwork, done in traditional and digital media, conveys the mystery and wonder of the snowy journey. Kimmel's storytelling is rich and straightforward. A nice addition to folklore and Christmas collections.-Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Some fur traders accept a mysterious stranger's offer to be magically transported home for Christmas Eve...provided they don't speak until they arrive. They break the promise but outwit the stranger for a happy ending in this variant of a Canadian tale. The conflict is too-easily resolved, but the chilly illustrations and smattering of French provide a strong sense of place. Glos. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Kimmel, an expert in folktales and their origins, retells a mysterious story about six French-Canadian fur traders who use a magical flying canoe to get home to Montreal for Christmas.The voyageurs are stuck in a remote location in Ontario on Christmas Eve, missing their families. A stranger in the clothing of the early explorers suddenly appears, offering them transport home if they will remain silent for the entire trip. Their canoe magically floats above the clouds as the men paddle silently, communicating with Indian sign language. One of the men speaks up on arriving home, causing the reappearance of the stranger, who is just about to send them back when the canoe gets stuck on the spire of the cathedral, allowing the men to escape. Evocative illustrations from Daniel San Souci, in collaboration with his son Justin, offer spooky views of the moonlit canoe sailing over lakes, forests and a fort in northern Michigan. Though the story has some humorous moments, the fluidity of the signed communication between the men as they paddle through the dark skies strains credulity (they are holding paddles, after all), and the motivation of the stranger offering the magical transportation is unclear.But folktales are sometimes allowed to be a little puzzling, and the talents of Kimmel and the San Soucis keep this enigmatic and unusual Christmas story aloft. (author's note, glossary)(Picture book/folktale. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
