From the beloved authors of D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths and other
classics comes a new edition of one of Ingri and Edgar Parin
d'Aulaires's most beguiling children's books. Long out of print,
Children of the Northlights introduces readers young and old to
siblings Lise and Lasse and to the captivating Sami people and culture
of northern Scandinavia. At times mischievous and at others quite
courageous, Lisa and Lasse, and their Sami culture, are brought
brilliantly to life in the d'Aulaires' illustrations.
This remarkable sister and brother live at the very top of Norway--to
Lise and Lasse, seemingly at the very top of the world. All bundled up
against the polar winter in their coats of fur and furry shoes, they
look at times like two little bears rolling in the snow. Beneath the
bright dancing of the northern lights, we follow Lise and Lasse as they
enjoy the long winter days and polar nights: playing pranks on their
family, chasing and playing with their reindeer Silverside and
Snowwhitedeer, skiing, taking hot saunas to stay clean, and staying warm
while snowstorms rage across the land. Lise and Lasse hunker down in
their warm tent and wait for the sun to return, which, of course, it
always does. When the sun comes back in spring, it's time to go to
school in the village (which Lise and Lasse happily do only after
instructing their dogs to take very good care of Silverside and
Snowwhitedeer while they're away).
Inspired directly by a remarkable journey the d'Aulaires took to
northern Europe and their time spent among the Sami, Children of the
Northlights is a brightly illustrated portrait and celebration of the
Sami people, culture, and snow-covered landscapes of the frozen north,
from two of the twentieth century's greatest storytellers.
