Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Fog threatens to derail a family's annual Christmas Eve visit to nearby Nana and Papa's house, but a child's determination and some unexpected guides lead the way in this fantastical picture book. Though the protagonist's parents announce the weather is too bad to travel, the bespectacled child persists in wanting to deliver a homemade gift, inspiring the group to venture forth, using a headlamp and twinkle lights to illuminate their passage. With inky, shadowy swirls, Wilson skillfully visualizes the uncertainty of the outing for a truly ominous effect as "the fog grows darker and colder" and the worried speaker finds themself suddenly alone--until majestic deer-like creatures arrive to brighten the way. While the original gift doesn't make it, the child ends up with something even more precious to share, making for a timeless holiday twist. Spare text allows Wilson's thin-lined artwork to shine as it readily communicates the book's emotional heft. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Extreme fog has derailed this family's Christmas Eve visit to Nana and Papa's, but the narrator is determined to get there. Though tying a flashlight to the dog's head fails, more lights, and a few luminous reindeer (not just their noses), help them arrive safely, with an epic story. Stylized, swirling fog dominates dramatic exterior illustrations and influences details in inviting interior spreads in this engaging take on the perils and wonders of the season's weather. Monica de los ReyesNovember/December 2024 p.19 (c) Copyright 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
A bright and shiny new Christmas book. It isn't easy to create a Yuletide tale that stands out on the crowded holiday shelf, but Wilson has done just that by riffing on lyrics from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Her illustrations are detailed and expressive, like a mashup of Marla Frazee and Vera Brosgol, with a dash of Barbara McClintock for good measure. They show the titular fog rolling in as a brown-skinned parent and a light-skinned child, who narrates, walk home, where another parent, tan-skinned, awaits. The child has made a gift for Nana and Papa, with whom the family always spends Christmas Eve. This year, however, "The weather is awful, and my parents say we can't go." The child's red hat evokes Little Red Riding Hood; the family dog, Sammy, is akin to a friendly wolf. Their combined depictions foreshadow a trek to Nana and Papa's house. With a flashlight on her head, Sammy heads out to "light the way," followed by the child, who sees monstrous visions in the fog and runs home in fear. Later, the whole family heads out, covered in Christmas lights, and fantastic, luminescent reindeer appear. Though the grandparents' gift is lost en route, the youngster has a story to tell upon the family's arrival--the best gift of all. Loaded with adventure and brimming with love and joy, this is a holiday tale to be savored. Read it out loud with glee. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
