Frindleswylde by Natalia O'Hara, Lauren O'Hara
Published by Candlewick Press on November 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536225096
Pages: 40
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

This trickster tale is reminiscent of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen. On the night of the first snowfall Granny warns Cora about Frindleswylde, a fae boy who brings the cold and comes to “snatch the storks” as well as people; everyone must be careful when they go out. The next day, when Granny goes out in the woods, Frindleswylde snatches the light from the lantern causing Granny to become lost. Cora follows Frindleswylde to another world which he says is the “land of ever ice”. Frindleswylde sets three “impossible tasks” for Cora to perform and she manages to complete them all to save her Granny. The authors of this book keep the story moving and keep the readers wondering what will happen. The mixed media illustrations give the story a fairytale feel. It is very wordy for a picture book and would be difficult to use as a read aloud but is an engaging story for older elementary readers. Recommended for grades 2-4.

Reviewed by Erin Scott, MSAD 75, Woodside