Lucia and the Light - Hardcover

Root, Phyllis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763622966 ISBN 13: 9780763622961

Publisher: Candlewick, 2006

Synopsis

Luminously illustrated by Mary GrandPré, a timeless adventure from master storyteller Phyllis Root about the loss of the sun — and one girl's brave quest to find it

In a cozy cabin high in the mountains of the Far North, Lucia and her family live a snug and contented life. But one day the wind screams fiercely and the sun does not rise over the mountain. Someone has stolen the sun! "Perhaps it has lost its way," says Lucia, who despite her mother's pleas sets out to find it with only a bit of bread, a tinderbox, and her milk-white cat to keep her company. In dramatic pastels, Mary GrandPré illuminates troll-pocked frozen mountains and wraps Lucia's family in a blanket of warmth. Inspired by Nordic lore, Phyllis Root spins a golden yarn of courage, love, and the age-old longing for the return of light.

About this title

About the Author:

Phyllis Root has written more than thirty books for children, including WHAT BABY WANTS, OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY, KISS THE COW!, and BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mary GrandPré's ethereal pastel paintings grace the pages of several picture books, including SWEEP DREAMS by Nancy Willard and PLUM: POEMS by Tony Mitton, as well as the jackets of the Harry Potter series. She lives in Sarasota, Florida.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* Lucia has always loved the cozy mountain cabin that she shares with her mother, baby brother, a cow, and a milk-white cat. Then comes a winter when the sun disappears altogether. Mama is loving and reassuring: "We will be each other's sun until the real sun returns." But brave Lucia is determined to restore daylight, and with her cat tucked into her parka, she sets off on her skis. Grandpre's evocative, dimly lit acrylics capture the eerie mystery and shivery suspense of the adventure, as Lucia treks through spooky, starlit forests and finally finds the sun, held hostage by a band of deliciously gruesome trolls. Root's rich language and well-paced story are sure to capture a young crowd of eager listeners, and children will connect with the messages about friendship and cooperation; as intrepid as Lucia is, she still needs the help of her white cat to carry out her quest and return safely home. A final note extends the story's pourquoi-tale elements by suggesting that Lucia's battle is an annual event: each winter, the days will only lengthen after a courageous person has battled the trolls and reclaimed the sun. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0763622966
• ISBN 13: 9780763622961
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: GrandPre Mary