Tidholm, Thomas. To the Ice. Anna-Clara Tidholm, Illus. Translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall. Gecko, 09/2023. 80pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7765-7507-7. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Three young friends inadvertently find themselves on a thrilling polar expedition. This transitional chapter book carries the friends through ice floes, open ocean, an abandoned polar camp shelter, large penguin encounters, and a successful return homeward. The blurring of survivalist realism and fantasy will excite young readers, and give cautious caregivers pause. All three children are portrayed with light skin and straight hair. An award-winning team offers a dramatic story accompanied by quirky kid notions and delicate watercolor-and-ink artwork for a delightful reading journey.
Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library