Winterfrost

September 15, 2014
Never neglect a nisse. Such is the hard lesson learned by young Bettina in this novel, set in Denmark. Bettina’s grandfather, or Farfar, has always believed in the nisse, the elflike creatures rumored to look after the family and its livestock, and he never forgot to leave them a bowl of Christmas pudding. But on this first Christmas since Farfar’s death, Bettina’s parents are called away and leave her in charge. In the resulting confusion, Klaake the nisse gets no holiday treat and resorts to mischief as payback. Things get out of hand when Klaake snatches away Bettina’a baby sister and sets off a chain of dramatic magical encounters between Bettina and the nisse. Houts’s descriptions of the glistening weather phenomenon of winterfrost heighten the air of wonder in the story. The mix of fantasy, legend, and holiday tradition makes for a heady, escapist read. Ages 8–12. Agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary.

July 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-The Larsens' Christmas dinner is interrupted by a frantic emergency call that summons both parents away, leaving 12-year-old Bettina in charge of the farm, the household, and baby Pia. Unfortunately, in the confusion, family members forget the tradition of putting a bowl of holiday rice pudding out for the nisse who protects their Danish homestead. While the wee magical folk are usually kind and helpful, tradition warns that they can be prickly when slighted. So, when little Pia vanishes, Bettina fears that the offended nisse are to blame. An enchanted winterfrost opens the way for her to enter their hidden world. She learns that Pia is being held by Ulf, an angry nisse, estranged from his family and filled with guilt over a long-ago mistake. To bring her sister home, Bettina must travel to Ulf's lonely island and help the unhappy recluse make peace with his family and his past. Children with a fascination for all things cute and tiny will delight in the cozy details of nisse household life, with its acorn cups and thistledown stockings. At the same time, they will appreciate Bettina's struggle to cope with very adult responsibilities. A gentle holiday adventure with a quiet message of courage and responsibility.-Elaine E. Knight, formerly at Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2014
A magical middle-grade tale of a human child's encounter with nisse folk-tiny gnomelike creatures who, legend has it, inhabit the houses, barns and woodlands of Denmark. When 12-year-old Bettina Larsen is entrusted with the farm chores and the care of her infant sister, Pia-after an unexpected Christmas Eve phone call results in the hasty departure of her parents-she is proud of her ability to do both. But in the confusion of leaving, the Larsen family has neglected an important Danish Christmas Eve tradition: putting out rice pudding for the barn nisse. Bettina isn't sure she believes in nisse, although her Farfar (grandfather) did-the only adult Bettina knows who did. But then strange things start happening at the Larsen farm (nisse are generally helpful, but they do like their Christmas Eve rice pudding). When Pia goes missing after a nap, Bettina searches in the woods behind the farm, where she discovers a nisse family that helps her find her sister, and in the process, Bettina helps them heal an old family rift. Narrated in a comfortingly authoritative voice that is reminiscent of storytelling around a winter's hearth, this folkloric tale is rich with depth and tradition and full of a child's wonder of the natural world. Alternating chapters tell the tale from young nisse Klakke's point of view.A timeless story that upholds and nurtures the magical worlds of nature and childhood. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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September 1, 2014
Grades 4-7 A sweet but suspenseful story set on the Danish island of Lolland, Houts' latest reveals two worlds: that of 12-year-old Bettina, who must watch over her baby sister when her parents are called away, and that of the nisse folk, the small, magical creatures who have long provided hidden help and made mischief in the countryside. Few adults believe in them, but they cause real trouble, starting when Klakke, the nisse who lives in Bettina's barn, impulsively steals baby Pia from her carriage. Houts focuses on Bettina's lamentable situation but also shows how Klakke's mind works; he's not malicious, just upset and immature. The plot comes together as Bettina bravely searches for her sister in the sparkling wilderness, which seems to be under some sort of winter spell. Houts wonderfully conveys how Bettina gets caught up in a blur of frost and leaves and roots and cider as she travels to the nisse's hideaways and then makes her way back homewith not only her sister but also with more friends than she had before.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2014
Bettina, mourning the loss of her beloved grandfather, is left in charge of the farm and her baby sister Pia when her parents are unexpectedly called away on Christmas Eve. When a mischievous nisse steals Pia (in retribution for the omission of his traditional bowl of rice pudding), Bettina must use all her courage, wit, and heart to get her sister back. In the process, her sadness over Farfar's death is replaced by joy in their shared belief in the small folk. Although the novel's outcome is never in doubt, readers will enjoy this benevolent Christmastime adventure inspired by Danish folklore. martha v. parravano

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2015
With their parents unexpectedly called away, Bettina is left in charge of her baby sister. A mischievous nisse steals Pia, and Bettina must use all her courage, wit, and heart to get her sister back. In the process, her sadness over her grandfather's death changes to joy in their shared belief in the small folk. Readers will enjoy this Danish-folklore-inspired Christmastime adventure.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)