Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love. Candlewick Studio, 2021. 9781536217711. 87pp.
I grew up reading tales of King Arthur and Greek/Roman heroes and gods, but I never really got the Norse Gods. I wanted to, but other than Thor and the Asgardians in Marvel’s comics, I’ve never found a book about them that I enjoyed reading.
I read this book cover to cover. It wasn’t just Love’s epic illustrations, though I love them; Crossley-Holland’s excellent writing has a clarity that doesn’t call too much attention to itself. I wish I’d read this book when I was ten, but I didn’t enjoy it any less because I read it last week.
John The Skeleton by Triinu Laan. Illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats. Translated from Estonian by Adam Cullen. Restless Books, 2024. 9781632063700. 64pp.
Such a striking book — it’s drawn in black (graphite) and white and dayglow pink. It’s the story of John the skeleton who used to live in the corner of a classroom. After he broke a few bones, the teacher decided he should retire. Gramps came and got him, took him to the cottage deep in the woods where he lives with Gram. Gramps fixed John up. Grams dressed him up. And John became part of the family. Even their cat and John soon became friends.
The places John’s story went were unexpected and delightful, and I loved every illustration in the book.
Nutshimit In The Woods by Melissa Mollen Dupuis and Elise Gravel. English text by Gaëlle Mollen. North Winds Press, 2023. 9781039701809. 88pp.
Gravel is one of my favorite comic artists, and I was happy to be able to get myself a copy of this book published in Canada. Melissa is from the Innu Nation, and this is the story of her people, a kind of thank you note to them for what they’ve passed down that’s been turned into a book we can all enjoy. The focus is largely on nature, on trees, plants, and animals, information about which is shared along with some Innu culture and the Innu-Aimun language.
The entire book is, as Gravel’s books always are, delightful. My favorite pages are about a creation story, though I also loved those about folding and biting birch bark and the others about making and using maple syrup.
