This is a fascinating story based in Danish folklore. Bettina, a twelve-year-old girl, is trusted to care for her baby sister, the house, and the barn and its animals, while her parents are away on an urgent family matter. They were in such a hurry to leave on that Christmas Eve that they forgot the time-old tradition of leaving out a bowl of rice pudding for the nisse (pronounced nee se) that lives in their barn and helps care for their livestock. The nisse are tiny mythical gnomes that only Bettina's grandfather had still believed in, but the family carried on the tradition - except for this time. When the nisse found no rice pudding, he got into a pout and did mischievous things instead of the helpful things he always did. When Bettina's baby sister disappears from her pram, Bettina discovers the nisse are real and had been unintentionally wronged, she is determined to get her sister back before her parents' soon return! When she finds herself involved in something she hadn't even been sure of before, it means she has to do some things that would never seem possible.
Great story!

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Winterfrost is a wonderfully different book!

I don't often see children's books set in Nordic countries, so I was excited that Winterfrost is set in Denmark. And instead of focusing on the usual fantasy novel characters--fairies, dragons, and so on--Winterfrost centers around nisse (basically gnomes), little creatures in peaked hats who can be found dwelling in trees in the forest, or in barns to watch over a human family's animals, or in houses to watch over a human family.

Bettina, the main character, is sensible and responsible. Unlike the characters of so many middle-grade novels lately, she's not weird or goofy or mistake-prone, which is a refreshing change. She's happy to hold down the fort while her parents are away and isn't at all resentful at being left to care for her baby sister, Pia.

Winterfrost is an enjoyable middle-grade novel with a touch of fantasy, an element of adventure, and a dash of Christmas spirit that will be enjoyed by girls and boys.

Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley. ( )

This is a delightful wintry treat, one that I hope to reread every holiday season. This is a wonderful look at Danish lore that evokes the magic and wonder of childhood, and the desire to believe. Readers of any age, child or adult, can find beauty in this gentle story. I love the message of community, unity, and unlikely friendships and alliances. I'm so grateful that I found this luminous and inspiring winter story!

This was a good book, but not the luminous, transformative read I'd expected based on the review I read. I think my kids will love it, though. ( )

A cute holiday story base on Danish nisse.