(2) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Jones. While searching for food in the snow, a white fox is rescued by a kindly bearded man. Though the man's identity as Santa Claus isn't revealed until the end, perceptive readers will notice text and illustration clues throughout (e.g., "Stuck? Now that's a problem I understand!"; the red-and-white suit hanging by the fireplace). Faber's quiet narrative recounts the animal's year watching its host create toys he matches with letters from children. Any remaining mystery is cleared up once eight reindeer arrive to fly Santa's sleigh full of toys. Jones's textured mixed-media illustrations beautifully contrast the bold hues of cold winter nights and the pastel warmth inside the fox's new North Pole home.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Hevron. A young Arctic tern's extraordinary migration route takes her from the North Pole to the South Pole and back--"the longest migration of any living creature on Earth." Within just two months of her birth, "flapping and fluttering, the little Arctic tern takes off" from Greenland, one of twenty in a flock that will pass over oceans and continents, with brief rests on island beaches and floating driftwood. Hevron's account of the three-month journey explains events both perilous and wondrous, with collective nouns and sound words emphasized throughout: the birds soar over a "flamboyance" of Liberian flamingos, pods of humpback whales, and "tuk-tuk-tuk!...a raft of macaroni penguins" but are also threatened by a great skua ("Pyeh! Pyeh!") and powerful storms. Hevron's creative acrylic paintings and evocative, cool-toned sketches of the terns, sea, land, and sky are executed on wood and altered digitally to take advantage of the wood-grain textures in backgrounds and negative spaces. A helpful world map in the corner of many spreads orients readers to the tern's location at each point in the journey. Finally reaching the pack ice of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, the bird will enjoy summer in the south before traveling back again to her Arctic breeding ground. The main narrative centers on the flight; to learn more about the tern's life cycle, feeding, and reproduction, readers can consult the informative endnotes and suggested resources.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(3) 4-6 In 2016, fourteen-year-old Hameister embarked on a multi-year quest to become the youngest person to accomplish the "Polar Hat Trick"--skiing to the North Pole, across Greenland, and finally to the South Pole. Her inspiring memoir is filled with adventure, perseverance, and gratitude, showcasing her indomitable spirit. Two color photo sections from before and during the expeditions are included plus a few black-and-white photographs.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) 4-6 In 1893, Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian Renaissance man and Nobel Peace Prize winner, tried (unsuccessfully) to become the first person to reach the North Pole. The harrowing Arctic journey--documented here through black-and-white photographs, line drawings, and journal entries--became legendary. Lourie provides an intriguing portrait of the man and a worthwhile and absorbing account of his journey. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) K-3 Long ago, a reindeer family in a traveling circus lived, unhappily, far from the North Star and that magical place where "the air was crisp and cold, and the ground was always covered with...snow." These soothing phrases echo throughout as youngest reindeer Dasher escapes; helps Santa and his horse; and finds a new home for her family at the North Pole. Painterly mixed-media illustrations reflect the pleasantly nostalgic tone used throughout this Santa's-reindeer origin story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) PS When Harold sets out to find a Christmas tree, his famous purple crayon leads him to the North Pole and back before he draws just the right tree "between the fireplace and the big soft chair." This new board-book edition has fewer pages than the original 1957 picture book, with a handful of different page breaks (fitting more lines per page) and a few deletions of Harold's in-progress drawings.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) 4-6 What do you do when Santa leaves coal in your stocking? If you're the No-Good Nine--a ragtag group of kids with the nicknames Liar, Hooligan, Thief, Cruel, Vainglorious, etc.--you take to the North Pole in order to confront Santa (and play with some toys). Set during the Great Depression, Marciano's freewheeling tale will appeal to readers who prefer their holiday spirit to be side-splitting rather than heart-tugging.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. River Rose accidentally falls asleep on Christmas Eve while waiting to hand-deliver her letter to Santa. She wakes, and the three balloons (from River Rose and the Magical Lullaby) take her to the North Pole. Though the rhyming cadence occasionally stumbles, the story and colorful illustrations offer plenty of holiday cheer. A link to the elves' Christmas song (sung by Clarkson) didn't work.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chris Mould. Amelia, whose hope helped Father Christmas deliver his first gifts, is now orphaned and stuck in a workhouse. It's up to Father Christmas to help, despite his own holiday headaches. The plot feels unfocused--with historical-figure cameos and Santa's-workshop scenes vying for space--but fans of companion book A Boy Called Christmas will find echoes of its charm, particularly in the expressive black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 A retiring Santa announces a competition for his replacement. Claus family members and elves alike (including protagonists Ollie and Celia) compete in events ranging from sleigh-racing to cookie-and-milk consumption. A society devoted to the perpetuation of wish-fulfillment and Christmas cheer is fertile territory for puns and parody, and Huett's are all in good fun. The spirited holiday romp endorses teamwork, respect, and generosity.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) 4-6 On its 1879 expedition to the North Pole, the steamer Jeannette got stuck in Arctic ice for twenty months, forcing a death march across hundreds of miles of inhospitable land; of the thirty-three men aboard, twelve survived. The Wallaces bring the tale to vivid life, expertly incorporating quotes from journals and letters, sketches, engravings, etc., which lend immediacy to the history. A fascinating authors' note details "the thrills of research." Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(3) K-3 After being shipped to the North Pole to be a "sled cat," wild-eyed, spiky-furred Bill the Cat haplessly makes his way back to lonely child Binkley via ancient Egypt and outer space. No one but Bloom County fans will get this friendship origin story between three of the long-running comic's main characters (Opus is there, too), but that group should be entertained.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Piper Thibodeau. The rhyming story reveals a group of top-secret ninja elves, led by Santa's sensei, who perform random acts of kindness. However, the ninjas need help and choose the reader to join them through covert acts such as secretly shoveling snow or donating unused items. The book's heavy-handed delivery weighs down the warm holiday message, despite the clever ninja twist and glowing, soft-edged digital cartoons.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chris Mould. Born in Finland, Santa was named Nikolas. Running away from a horrid aunt, he searches for his father in the Far North and arrives in the village of Elfhelm. In the end, generous Nikolas grows that famous beard and embraces his gift for giving. Spindly black-and-white illustrations feel merry even in their simplicity. There's fanciful sweetness in this confection.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) 4-6 Encounter series. Illustrated by Iva Sasheva. In 1988, fifty-year-old Helen Thayer hiked to the North Pole, becoming the first woman to reach "any of the world's Poles" alone. This inspiring biography's straightforward text heightens tension during action-packed scenes, but a rushed ending detracts from Thayer's accomplishment. The photorealistic illustrations convey Thayer's isolation in the stark Arctic environment. Notes from Thayer and the author are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) PS Illustrated by Lorna Hussey. Young pig Pigloo, "an explorer," plans to find the North Pole using his new sled. The watercolor and graphite illustrations, as well as hints in the present-tense text, make it clear this mission involves Pigloo's imagination. Humorous asides--"He has stores (that's what explorers call snacks) in his backpack"--add to the sense that young listeners are in on the joke.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jarvis. A penguin family headed to a picnic accidentally winds up at the North Pole. A polar bear escorts them home--stopping in Italy, India, and elsewhere along the way. The book, which has a subtle (and timely) it's-a-small-world message, features funny whine-asides from the penguin kids ("I need to pee") and toothsome art with colors adjusted for each locale.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 When Harold sets out to find a Christmas tree, his famous purple crayon leads him to the North Pole and back before drawing just the right tree (topped by the moon) "between the fireplace and the big soft chair." This "revised edition" is similar in size to the original editon.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 When Sophie stows away on her mysterious great-aunt's "annual business trip," she not only discovers that Auntie Claus is Santa Claus's sister, but she also learns a much-needed lesson about giving. With their imaginative details and interesting perspectives, the vibrant illustrations lend pizzazz to this holiday story, which offers a whimsical view of what goes on at the North Pole.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 Translated by Laura Watkinson. Schwartz fictionalizes North Pole explorer Henson's life in this graphic novel. The visual storytelling--in shades of steely blue and grays--is striking and resonant. Schwartz goes to great lengths to illuminate the many ways in which African American Henson was discriminated against during his lifetime; the lack of nuance in his portrayal of the Inuits who held Henson in high esteem is unfortunate.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom