The Christmas Book Flood

The Christmas Book Flood

Start your own holiday tradition inspired by this bestselling Yuletide story. Based on a real Icelandic tradition where people gift books to their family and friends on Christmas Eve, The Christmas Book Flood brings all the sparkle and anticipation of the winter season―and of the joys of reading―to the page. As northern lights dance and snow blankets the ground, a young girl searches for the perfect book to give her loved ones for their annual book exchange on Christmas Eve. When December 24th finally arrives, they gather together to share magical stories, curl up by the fire, and read all night long―so the Book Flood begins! With gorgeous artwork, a lyrical text, and a diverse cast of characters, Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss’s heartwarming picture book is a surefire holiday classic best enjoyed with a mug of hot cocoa. Includes an author’s note explaining the book’s inspiration and the historical origins of the Icelandic tradition. PreS—Kilgore introduces readers to the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið as they follow a young girl with dark skin who is searching for the perfect book to give. The opening pages show the girl and other townspeople as they search for the perfect gift books in the Bókatíðindi, the Book Bulletin. In magical Currier and Ives—style tableaus, people shop in a welcoming bookstore. The girl finds the perfect book just before the bookstore closes on Christmas Eve and rushes home to experience the joy of gifting new worlds and adventures to someone. An author's note at the end, which shares the history of the Book Flood and encourages participation in the tradition, might have better served readers as a foreword. The text flows well and will read aloud nicely. Moss captures the magic of reading and of Christmas in mixed media scenes, while incorporating book pages and anthropomorphized creatures. The warm illustrations depict a wonderfully diverse town and the renderings exude book love for all. VERDICT A must-have for library collections and displays during the holiday season.—Sarah Sieg AN INDIE BESTSELLER “The art adds old-world charm while leading the narrative through blue-tinted winter nights and warm, homey interiors. Moss’ lovely . . . captivating illustrations depict a family of four . . . as the story’s focus among a racially diverse country town . . . Marvelously enchanting.” ― Kirkus Reviews , starred review “Expressive and poetic . . . Bibliophiles will revel in this stunning celebration of the written word. The Christmas Book Flood sparkles with bookish excitement on every page.” ― BookPage “An atmospheric celebration of Christmas as a time to celebrate the written word.” ― Publishers Weekly “The warm illustrations depict a wonderfully diverse town and the renderings exude book love for all . . . A must-have for library collections and displays during the holiday season.” ― School Library Journal “[Kilgore’s] free-verse text sets the mood, a mix of awe and excitement as it describes the build-up to December 24 . . . Moss’s gorgeous full-bleed collage illustrations appropriately feature printed paper, and their rich hues perfectly capture the beauty of the northern lights.” ― Horn Book Emily Kilgore is a teacher and the author of the picture book The Whatifs . She wrote The Christmas Book Flood by candlelight while in Sweden. She lives in Minnesota. Visit her website to learn more. Kitty Moss is an artist, and the author and illustrator of Where Bone? She lives in Ireland. Visit her website to learn more.