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Guardians of Childhood #3
Jack Frost
Before Jack Frost was Jack Frost, he was Nightlight, the most trusted and valiant companion of Mim, the Man in the Moon. But when Pitch destroys Mim’s world, he nearly destroys Nightlight too, sending him plunging to Earth where, like Peter Pan, he is destined to remain forever a boy, frozen in time. And while Nightlight has fun sailing icy winds and surfing clouds, he is also lonely without his friend Mim. To keep the cold in his heart from taking over, he spreads it to the landscapes around him and earns a new name: Jack Overland Frost.
But a true friend always comes through, and on one particularly bleak night, Mim shines down and shows Jack a group of children in great peril. Through helping them, Jack finds the warmth he’s been yearning for, and realizes bringing joy to others can melt his own chill. It is this realization—that there will always be children who need moments of bravery, who need rosy cheeks, who need to build snowmen, and who are then eager for a spring day—that makes Jack realize why he is a forever boy, and worthy of becoming a Guardian of Childhood.
But a true friend always comes through, and on one particularly bleak night, Mim shines down and shows Jack a group of children in great peril. Through helping them, Jack finds the warmth he’s been yearning for, and realizes bringing joy to others can melt his own chill. It is this realization—that there will always be children who need moments of bravery, who need rosy cheeks, who need to build snowmen, and who are then eager for a spring day—that makes Jack realize why he is a forever boy, and worthy of becoming a Guardian of Childhood.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2015
23 people are currently reading
2612 people want to read
About the author
William Joyce
137 books1,490 followersWilliam Joyce does a lot of stuff—films, apps, Olympic curling—but children’s books are his true bailiwick (The Numberlys, The Man in the Moon, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, Toothiana, and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which is also an Academy Award–winning short film, to name a few). He lives with his family in Shreveport, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
May 18, 2022
After what feels like forever, I have finally read this book. I didn't expect this to be an illustrated book but it was a fun and quick read. Both the story and the illustrations were amazing. I'll be reading the actual Jack Frost novel next!
Some ramblings from the past before this book was even announced or published:
Some ramblings from the past before this book was even announced or published:
November 30, 2018
I love thes Guardians of Childhood stories by William. They are so beautiful and the imagination drips from the pages. This is the weaker of the 3 stories, but it’s still a great story. This is about Jack or Nightlight who protected the man in the Moon. By saving the moon man he falls to Earth where he gets cold without the light of the Moon Man. He is free. He remembers who he is and he protects children as Jack Frost.
I didn’t feel there was as much to this story as the others. It felt a little like it was half told, but maybe the simple straight forward story is all that’s needed. I do hope he will write more stories in this series. They are wonderful and I would love to own them all.
The kids love this series as well and they both gave the story 5 stars. The Nephew really liked Jack Frost, which go figure.
I didn’t feel there was as much to this story as the others. It felt a little like it was half told, but maybe the simple straight forward story is all that’s needed. I do hope he will write more stories in this series. They are wonderful and I would love to own them all.
The kids love this series as well and they both gave the story 5 stars. The Nephew really liked Jack Frost, which go figure.
December 18, 2016
The third of the (so far) three picture books about the Guardians of Childhood. Jack Frost seems to be the latest addition (although Mother Goose is mentioned and I haven't seen a book about her yet) but one I was looking forward to immensely ever since watching the movie The Guardians.
William Joyce seems to take myths and tales from around the world (which has already been clear after reading his version of Santa Clause) so this Russian character full of playful joy could not be left out - especially since these stories are perfect for Christmas and if you ask me, Christmas should always be cold and frosty and snowy-white.
As I said before, this is one of the picture book so it focuses on the art rather than the story. The story is still there of course, but since it's aimed at younger children there is not too much text/detail. I therefore hope that we'll get the novel about Jack Frost as well!
Nevertheless, this book, like the other previous ones, is a true gem. The art is superb and I'm especially happy about that because the author is the artist. Apparently he even started out with just a few questions from his now deceased daughter (William Joyce doesn't have much luck in his private life it seems) and illustrations he drew up for her and her brother. The stories came a bit later.
The difference in the art here is that there are less swirls. When Jack Frost was Nightlight, they were there of course, but the transformation had to be made clear I think. So Jack was "grounded" and therefore has less of the orbital swirls that The Sandman has too. It's one of many nice little details that make each and every character unique.
William Joyce seems to take myths and tales from around the world (which has already been clear after reading his version of Santa Clause) so this Russian character full of playful joy could not be left out - especially since these stories are perfect for Christmas and if you ask me, Christmas should always be cold and frosty and snowy-white.
As I said before, this is one of the picture book so it focuses on the art rather than the story. The story is still there of course, but since it's aimed at younger children there is not too much text/detail. I therefore hope that we'll get the novel about Jack Frost as well!
Nevertheless, this book, like the other previous ones, is a true gem. The art is superb and I'm especially happy about that because the author is the artist. Apparently he even started out with just a few questions from his now deceased daughter (William Joyce doesn't have much luck in his private life it seems) and illustrations he drew up for her and her brother. The stories came a bit later.
The difference in the art here is that there are less swirls. When Jack Frost was Nightlight, they were there of course, but the transformation had to be made clear I think. So Jack was "grounded" and therefore has less of the orbital swirls that The Sandman has too. It's one of many nice little details that make each and every character unique.
December 22, 2015
NO ENTIENDO POR QUÉ ESTAS HISTORIAS ME CONMUEVEN TANTOOOOO
NECESITO EL LIBRO 5 DE LA SAGA PRINCIPAL YAAAAAA
NECESITO EL LIBRO 5 DE LA SAGA PRINCIPAL YAAAAAA
May 24, 2021
Impulse grab at the library.
Some, but not all, of the illustrations are gorgeous. But stitching them together to present a concept doesn't count as a publishable book. Ok, this is Jack. Yep. Now what? So what?? And the scene of the battle with Pitch, well, wow, one climactic scene, no story... and the design is cribbed straight out of Hook & Pan (and is also akin to Vader & Luke, so, yeah, it's been done).
So, I'm looking at others' reviews...
Ok, I get it now. This is part of a 'series' by someone into visual media for fans. One-star rating stands as it's deceitful to present this as a stand-alone.
Nevermind.
Some, but not all, of the illustrations are gorgeous. But stitching them together to present a concept doesn't count as a publishable book. Ok, this is Jack. Yep. Now what? So what?? And the scene of the battle with Pitch, well, wow, one climactic scene, no story... and the design is cribbed straight out of Hook & Pan (and is also akin to Vader & Luke, so, yeah, it's been done).
So, I'm looking at others' reviews...
Ok, I get it now. This is part of a 'series' by someone into visual media for fans. One-star rating stands as it's deceitful to present this as a stand-alone.
Nevermind.
January 15, 2016
Not what I was expecting, to be honest. I guess, in hindsight, I should have realized that Jack's story would be significantly different from the way it was in Rise of the Guardians, but I honestly never expected Jack to have been Nightlight before he was Jack. I do prefer the movie version of Jack's story, so basically I like to think of this in terms of an alternate universe kind of a thing.
But the illustrations are pretty fabulous. Some of them are really gorgeous, with the rest being nice enough.
But the illustrations are pretty fabulous. Some of them are really gorgeous, with the rest being nice enough.
March 10, 2019
15 - 2019
Sudah lumayan lama sebenarnya pengen koleksi seri ini The Guardian of Childhood, baru punya Jack Frost yang ilustrasi beberapa waktu lalu. Buku ini berkisah tentang kehidupan Jack Frost sebelum menjadi pelindung anak-anak, baru tahu dia punya nama lain yaitu Nightlight (kayaknya di animasinya dia mati ketika akan menyelamatkan adiknya ya?). Hmm... memang beda ya, jadi penasaran ingin baca yang novelnya tapi belom punyaa 😢. Walau narasinya singkat tapi cukup menggambarkan siapa itu Jack Frost daan ilustrasinya sukaa 😍 omo... empat jempol deh ❤️❤️.
4,3/5*
Sudah lumayan lama sebenarnya pengen koleksi seri ini The Guardian of Childhood, baru punya Jack Frost yang ilustrasi beberapa waktu lalu. Buku ini berkisah tentang kehidupan Jack Frost sebelum menjadi pelindung anak-anak, baru tahu dia punya nama lain yaitu Nightlight (kayaknya di animasinya dia mati ketika akan menyelamatkan adiknya ya?). Hmm... memang beda ya, jadi penasaran ingin baca yang novelnya tapi belom punyaa 😢. Walau narasinya singkat tapi cukup menggambarkan siapa itu Jack Frost daan ilustrasinya sukaa 😍 omo... empat jempol deh ❤️❤️.
4,3/5*
December 28, 2017
Aww I'm sad. If you pick this up thinking it will be the origin from the film - it isn't.
To be honest the film one was a lot better! And I don't just think that's because I saw the film first. I liked the way it was.
Trying to avoid spoilers!
To be honest the film one was a lot better! And I don't just think that's because I saw the film first. I liked the way it was.
Trying to avoid spoilers!
January 2, 2017
Origins story similar to the movie, but still very different. I really liked it. the illustrations were beautiful and vivid, while the story itself was pleasant
November 14, 2019
Author/artist William Joyce sets out the story of Jack Frost in this third picture-book in his The Guardians of Childhood series, following upon
The Man in the Moon
and
The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie
. Once a guardian to the young Man in the Moon, AKA MiM, Jack was known as Nighlight. But then one day, while defending MiM from Pitch, the terrible Nightmare King, he fell to Earth and was surrounded by snow and frost. Terribly alone and lonely, he was consumed by cold, until reminded by the now-grown Man in the Moon of the joy that helping and protecting others can bring...
As with its predecessors, Jack Frost is an absolute delight, visually speaking! The artwork is simply gorgeous, with a bold, deep color palette, and plenty of magical scenes to grab the reader's attention. It would appear that Joyce had a little help here, as a second illustrator - Andrew Theophilopoulos - is credited on the title-page. Whatever the case may be, I loved the illustrations. My favorite scene was the one in which Jack sails through a starry night, past the bright moon - a deeply dramatic scene. The story was engaging, and offers an interesting follow-up to the earlier tales. At some point, I hope to read the related fantasy novels that Joyce has written, featuring these "Guardians of Childhood." In the meantime, I'm glad to have read the picture-books, which I recommend to all young children who enjoy fantasy, fairy-tales, and beautifully-illustrated picture-books.
As with its predecessors, Jack Frost is an absolute delight, visually speaking! The artwork is simply gorgeous, with a bold, deep color palette, and plenty of magical scenes to grab the reader's attention. It would appear that Joyce had a little help here, as a second illustrator - Andrew Theophilopoulos - is credited on the title-page. Whatever the case may be, I loved the illustrations. My favorite scene was the one in which Jack sails through a starry night, past the bright moon - a deeply dramatic scene. The story was engaging, and offers an interesting follow-up to the earlier tales. At some point, I hope to read the related fantasy novels that Joyce has written, featuring these "Guardians of Childhood." In the meantime, I'm glad to have read the picture-books, which I recommend to all young children who enjoy fantasy, fairy-tales, and beautifully-illustrated picture-books.
October 28, 2015
William Joyce has once again captured the wonder of childhood with Jack Frost's story. Told in the same fashion, and given the same visually stunning, old-fashioned illustrations, the story of Jack Frost is as mesmerizing as the first two books in The Guardians of Childhood series, The Man In The Moon, and The Sandman. The long awaited arrival of this book's release lives up to all that I had hoped it would be and more.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2015/1...
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2015/1...
May 25, 2021
Perhaps I was expecting too much from this volume, the third book on the “Guardians” that inspired the Rise of the Guardians film, but while the illustrations were just as beautiful as the previous two, the accompanying narrative didn’t have the same power. After seeing the film, this was the particular book that I really wanted to read, and the character that most interested me, but the story included here just wasn’t quite as magical as the other two.
January 30, 2016
2.5 - 3 stars
I was a tad thrown when I started reading this only to discover that Jack Overland Frost was none other than Nightlight!
I do prefer the film's version of Jack Frost better. But it was nice that Nightlight finally took his place as a Guardian after his years of service and care for the Man in the Moon and Katherine.
The art was vivid and detailed.
I was a tad thrown when I started reading this only to discover that Jack Overland Frost was none other than Nightlight!
I do prefer the film's version of Jack Frost better. But it was nice that Nightlight finally took his place as a Guardian after his years of service and care for the Man in the Moon and Katherine.
The art was vivid and detailed.
October 25, 2015
An entertaining and entrancing interpretation of who Jack Frost is, but seems strongly similar to Peter Pan - even down to the Darling children who are returned home safe and sound.
Colorful, swirly illustrations done in multimedia.
Imaginative series!
Colorful, swirly illustrations done in multimedia.
Imaginative series!
April 22, 2021
Love William Joyce’s children’s books, especially the illustrated ones. Lovely tales and beautiful art are a perfect combination and one that doesn’t require being a child to enjoy.
February 15, 2024
Although the artwork is stunningly gorgeous, the story lacks the fun and cohesion of the rest of this picture book series. It is lovely to look at.
November 24, 2015
This is a very gorgeous book, the pictures are really amazing, the only thing that I didn't like was the story by itself. We know for the summary that Nightlight somehow is actually known as Jack Frost, but the way the author did it makes me think that there's missing something, maybe it's because this is just the illustration book and maybe in the next novel of the guardians all our questions will be revealed.
I know that this is a childrens book, maybe that's why I'm being a bit irrational at asking more details or coherency, but I still love these series, love these books and I love how the author makes my inner child to feel happy while reading.
Next part is spoiler of the series and movie, proceed with caution.
I know that this is a childrens book, maybe that's why I'm being a bit irrational at asking more details or coherency, but I still love these series, love these books and I love how the author makes my inner child to feel happy while reading.
Next part is spoiler of the series and movie, proceed with caution.
August 22, 2017
So, if you're a fan of the Rise of the Guardians movie, this is going to throw you a bit. The books and the movie, at this point, may need to be considered separate universes. Rather than Jack Frost being the spirit of a child who died saving his sister, he's sort of the second form of Nightlight, the protector of the Man in the Moon.
But, if you ignore the connection to the movie and focus just on the quality of the book, it's...okay. The artwork in this series is phenomenal, full of little details and striking color choices. You could easily frame some of the pages for decoration in your child's room.
However, the plot is a bit too complex for most children's books. I'm not entirely sure which market this is best suited to. Fans of the movies would be, as I said, disappointed. The book is way too text-heavy for young listeners and early readers. And the plot of the series is convoluted enough that those reading it just because it looks pretty might be disappointed.
But, despite that issue, the book is still SO PRETTY that I think evening it out to a four-star is acceptable.
But, if you ignore the connection to the movie and focus just on the quality of the book, it's...okay. The artwork in this series is phenomenal, full of little details and striking color choices. You could easily frame some of the pages for decoration in your child's room.
However, the plot is a bit too complex for most children's books. I'm not entirely sure which market this is best suited to. Fans of the movies would be, as I said, disappointed. The book is way too text-heavy for young listeners and early readers. And the plot of the series is convoluted enough that those reading it just because it looks pretty might be disappointed.
But, despite that issue, the book is still SO PRETTY that I think evening it out to a four-star is acceptable.
February 15, 2017
Obviously, the art work in this book is beautiful. All of William Joyce's books are well illustrated. The problem lies with Jack's (aka Nightlight) origin story. I think Joyce felt pressure to bridge the gap between the novels and the movie. I love both. But I understand that the movie is inspired by and doesn't need to have a literal transition. If you read the novels, specifically Nicholas St. North and The Man in the Moon, it talks about the awakening of Nightlight and what he did thereafter. Now Joyce is saying "Just kidding, this is what really happened because Dreamworks told me so." The latest novel, Sandman and the War of Dreams, implies that Nightlight is going through a change (which I took to mean him turning into Jack Frost). This book basically goes against all of that and does what it feels like. It's sloppy.
December 26, 2020
Jack Frost is the Man in the Moon's childhood companion, Nightlight, turned human after he crashes to Earth. He gets lonely and gloomy and...causes winter? Then decides to keep children safe? Jack Frost is too simplistic and bland, a reversal from the more complex, surreal narratives in The Man in the Moon and The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie. Even the art and design couldn't save this one from being thoroughly blah.
October 28, 2015
This book was a joy to behold, from literature to illustrations. Mr. Joyce has done it again by crafting another beloved childhood tale. The only problem with the story is that it was too short. Myself and as well as others, I'm sure, will long for more. Jack Frost has always been one of my favorite legendary characters, and Mr. Joyce has done this justice. I look forward to reading this to my children one day.
November 6, 2015
Perfect little book!! The story is different from the one of Nightlight in the Guardians' books but it is still magical, dreamy, beautiful!
The illustrations are magnificent, the details took my breath away. I always feel calm and happy reading Joyce's books and the wonderful illustrations complete the magic.
I feel so good right now, I can't stop smiling! I will read it again and again, I will become one with it and it will help me get through everything!
The illustrations are magnificent, the details took my breath away. I always feel calm and happy reading Joyce's books and the wonderful illustrations complete the magic.
I feel so good right now, I can't stop smiling! I will read it again and again, I will become one with it and it will help me get through everything!
November 30, 2016
This book is wonderful. The illustrations are beautiful and tie into the Rise of the Guardians movie that you may have seen. But it's the story of Jack Frost (slightly different from that in the movie) and how he became the Jack Frost we know. While reading the book you really feel for Jack when he loses his way, and you feel very happy when the Man in the Moon helps him remember. It's just a beautiful story with beautiful illustrations.
January 5, 2016
I think this is wear William Joyce's Guardians of Childhood series soars; in the picture books. This is entry #3, the story of Jack Frost. This is an interesting take on the story of Jack Frost. The artwork in this book is stunning and is really a work of art.
I am still looking for to seeing what Mr. Joyce has in store for the character of Pitch.
I am still looking for to seeing what Mr. Joyce has in store for the character of Pitch.
May 10, 2017
I don't get the timeline with this one, it shows Nightlight becoming Jack when the man in the moon is just a baby so how does Nightlight know Katherine? when their storyline is happening the man in the moon is a man? I just don't get how it all links now. :/
Want to read
January 8, 2015I think it's gonna be about Jack Frost.......YES!!!!!!!!!
October 26, 2015
I LOVE the series, I LOVE this book. Thank you Mr. Joyce.
March 4, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations. Would work with our grade 4 fantasy unit.
January 12, 2017
Of the three, this is my least favorite but that might be my fondness for the movie story for Jack. Still, the art is amazing and it's a good story.
April 3, 2018
Fantastic art and beautiful story. These books are so gorgeous and the kids really love them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews