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The Polar Night Adventure: Grim's Starlit Journey across Svalbard
Will Grim find his way home? Discover the magic of Svalbard in this heartwarming Arctic adventure from New York Times bestselling author Cecilia Blomdhal.
As the last glimmers of light fade from the snow-covered peaks and Polar Night arrives, Grim the Finnish Lapphund finds himself lost in the vast Arctic. Along the way, he encounters mischievous arctic foxes, reindeer huddled in the snow, and bright-white belugas rising from the fjord. But danger lingers too—is that a polar bear in the distance…or just its tracks?
Beneath a sky filled with stars and shimmering northern lights, Grim finds the courage to keep moving forward. To make his way home—and back to Cecilia—he must face his fears and follow his heart through the darkness.
A timeless tale of bravery, wonder, and resilience, brought to life with illustrations by Suzie Mason, The Polar Night Adventure is a contemporary classic for kids everywhere.
As the last glimmers of light fade from the snow-covered peaks and Polar Night arrives, Grim the Finnish Lapphund finds himself lost in the vast Arctic. Along the way, he encounters mischievous arctic foxes, reindeer huddled in the snow, and bright-white belugas rising from the fjord. But danger lingers too—is that a polar bear in the distance…or just its tracks?
Beneath a sky filled with stars and shimmering northern lights, Grim finds the courage to keep moving forward. To make his way home—and back to Cecilia—he must face his fears and follow his heart through the darkness.
A timeless tale of bravery, wonder, and resilience, brought to life with illustrations by Suzie Mason, The Polar Night Adventure is a contemporary classic for kids everywhere.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
48 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Cecilia Blomdahl
2 books2,531 followersCecilia Blomdahl is originally from Sweden and moved to Svalbard in 2015. Her social media journey began when she started posting content online about living in an environment where polar bears rule the tundra and winter is spent in complete darkness. She has amassed more than 4 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Cecilia’s content focuses on daily life on Svalbard in a positive and educational way.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Polar Night Adventure is sweet and precious. I am very familiar with the author Cecilia Blomdahl and her treasured puppy friend Grim and was thrilled to be able to read this book early. In fact, I read it several times, envisioning the two best friends missing each other during their brief separation. On a chilly night on the frozen island of Svalbard, Grim felt a bit nervous in the darkness without Cecilia. His curiosity led him further and further from home. He saw Arctic foxes, ptarmigan, aurora borealis, pancake ice, and large tracks in the snow which could only belong to one animal. But he also remembered advice from Cecilia for such situations. Using her wisdom, his senses, and his ability to read nature's signs, he found his way home to their cozy cabin and his best friend's welcoming arms.
The delightful illustrations by Suzie Mason are of both the light and dark with gorgeous warm and cool shades. They capture Grim's appearance and personality beautifully. What fun it is so "visit" such a dream land through his eyes! Each page is pure joy.
Schools globally should have this wholesome, stunning, and informative book in their library and every child should have it in their hands. My hopes and expectations were high but they were surpassed with this charmer. I loved, loved, loved this book!
The delightful illustrations by Suzie Mason are of both the light and dark with gorgeous warm and cool shades. They capture Grim's appearance and personality beautifully. What fun it is so "visit" such a dream land through his eyes! Each page is pure joy.
Schools globally should have this wholesome, stunning, and informative book in their library and every child should have it in their hands. My hopes and expectations were high but they were surpassed with this charmer. I loved, loved, loved this book!
October 3, 2026
5☆ Never too old for a little adventure. What a sweet story. Cecilia managed to capture the magic of dark, wintry, snowy nights so well and the illustrations complement it perfectly. And Grim, both in real life and in the book, is just too adorable.
October 1, 2026
ALL THE STARS!
Amazing from start to finish! Grim's journey was so cute and informative to read about. Plus, the illustrations were beautiful.
This is a wonderful book, perfect for a bedtime story.
Amazing from start to finish! Grim's journey was so cute and informative to read about. Plus, the illustrations were beautiful.
This is a wonderful book, perfect for a bedtime story.
September 29, 2026
Beautiful Arctic Adventure That’s More Substantial Than It Looks
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for providing an advance reading copy.
⭐ 4/5
🎨 5/5
The Polar Night Adventure surprised me because it looks like a picture book, but the actual reading experience is much more substantial.
Grim’s adventure through Svalbard provides a natural way to explore the Arctic environment, wildlife, and Polar Night without making the educational content feel like facts inserted into a fictional story. The setting genuinely matters to the adventure, and I appreciated that the book teaches through what Grim experiences along the way.
The illustrations were easily one of my favorite parts. The full-page artwork is beautiful and atmospheric throughout, particularly the nighttime landscapes and northern lights. It captures both the scale and magic of the Arctic wonderfully.
The writing itself didn’t work quite as well for me. The prose is very descriptive and sometimes has an almost-rhyming cadence without actually rhyming, which made the rhythm feel awkward at times. There is also considerably more text and sophisticated vocabulary than I expected from the format. I would have loved clearer divisions or chapters to give the longer story some natural stopping points, as well as a glossary for some of the Arctic terminology.
I also wish the context provided in the author’s note had appeared before the story. Understanding the real-world connection behind the book added another layer of meaning and made me feel more emotionally invested. I would have loved to have carried that knowledge with me from the beginning.
There were also occasional pages where dark text appeared over dark nighttime artwork. With an already text-heavy story, stronger contrast would make those sections easier to read.
Ultimately, I think this could be especially good as a classroom or shared read-aloud. The length makes more sense when it can be broken into smaller portions, and the Arctic setting, animals, vocabulary, and story provide plenty of natural opportunities to stop, learn, and discuss.
Who Should Read It?
Kids interested in animals, the Arctic, nature, or adventure—particularly stronger independent readers. I also think it has excellent potential for teachers, classrooms, and families looking for a longer read-aloud that can lead naturally into conversations about Svalbard, Arctic wildlife, and the Polar Night.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for providing an advance reading copy.
⭐ 4/5
🎨 5/5
The Polar Night Adventure surprised me because it looks like a picture book, but the actual reading experience is much more substantial.
Grim’s adventure through Svalbard provides a natural way to explore the Arctic environment, wildlife, and Polar Night without making the educational content feel like facts inserted into a fictional story. The setting genuinely matters to the adventure, and I appreciated that the book teaches through what Grim experiences along the way.
The illustrations were easily one of my favorite parts. The full-page artwork is beautiful and atmospheric throughout, particularly the nighttime landscapes and northern lights. It captures both the scale and magic of the Arctic wonderfully.
The writing itself didn’t work quite as well for me. The prose is very descriptive and sometimes has an almost-rhyming cadence without actually rhyming, which made the rhythm feel awkward at times. There is also considerably more text and sophisticated vocabulary than I expected from the format. I would have loved clearer divisions or chapters to give the longer story some natural stopping points, as well as a glossary for some of the Arctic terminology.
I also wish the context provided in the author’s note had appeared before the story. Understanding the real-world connection behind the book added another layer of meaning and made me feel more emotionally invested. I would have loved to have carried that knowledge with me from the beginning.
There were also occasional pages where dark text appeared over dark nighttime artwork. With an already text-heavy story, stronger contrast would make those sections easier to read.
Ultimately, I think this could be especially good as a classroom or shared read-aloud. The length makes more sense when it can be broken into smaller portions, and the Arctic setting, animals, vocabulary, and story provide plenty of natural opportunities to stop, learn, and discuss.
Who Should Read It?
Kids interested in animals, the Arctic, nature, or adventure—particularly stronger independent readers. I also think it has excellent potential for teachers, classrooms, and families looking for a longer read-aloud that can lead naturally into conversations about Svalbard, Arctic wildlife, and the Polar Night.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Grim is a Finnish Lapphund who lives on Svalbard Island with his favorite human, Cecilia. They go on long walks together during the polar night, a time of year when the sun doesn’t come over the horizon in the arctic north. One day, Grim is distracted by an arctic fox and has an unexpected adventure trying to find his way home. A host of arctic animals give him advice along the way.
I adored this sweet story and the playful illustrations from author Cecilia Blomdahl and illustrator Suzie Mason. I follow Ms. Blomdahl on Instagram, so I am familiar with the real life Grim and Blomdahl’s love of polar night. This story combines the two for a magical adventure.
“The Polar Night Adventure” is great for readers of all ages who enjoy stories featuring dogs or the natural environment of the arctic.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and DK, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I adored this sweet story and the playful illustrations from author Cecilia Blomdahl and illustrator Suzie Mason. I follow Ms. Blomdahl on Instagram, so I am familiar with the real life Grim and Blomdahl’s love of polar night. This story combines the two for a magical adventure.
“The Polar Night Adventure” is great for readers of all ages who enjoy stories featuring dogs or the natural environment of the arctic.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and DK, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Grim's story was one of our nightly reads recently and my boys absolutely loved it. They were so captivated by the story and the beautiful illustrations. They were pointing out the different details, like the animals, but they also asked me if everything was going to be okay.
They were worried for Grim - as I was too to be completely honest - since he was trying to find his way back home. During his journey, I found that Cecilia (the author, not the girl in the story) did a perfect job in describing what life is like in Svalbard. We learn about the animals, the dark nights, and the surreal aurora; so, we can say that The Polar Night Adventure is also educational!
And I must say, Suzie's illustration style in The Polar Night Adventure is so fascinating that I had to take a few moments to take them in after reading each page. I especially love Grim's fluffy face, a perfect depiction to real Grim!
They were worried for Grim - as I was too to be completely honest - since he was trying to find his way back home. During his journey, I found that Cecilia (the author, not the girl in the story) did a perfect job in describing what life is like in Svalbard. We learn about the animals, the dark nights, and the surreal aurora; so, we can say that The Polar Night Adventure is also educational!
And I must say, Suzie's illustration style in The Polar Night Adventure is so fascinating that I had to take a few moments to take them in after reading each page. I especially love Grim's fluffy face, a perfect depiction to real Grim!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy.
This is a wonderful children's book full of adventure. My children and I loved the story, facing your fears and finding your way home. The story was beautifully written, had great cadence throughout and the illustrations were stunning. My children especially loved Grimm as the main character, a beautiful Finnish Lapphund. This story was also a great way to talk about the unique setting on Svalbard and how it is different than our life in Canada.
This was a great read and we will definitely purchase a book when it is released.
This is a wonderful children's book full of adventure. My children and I loved the story, facing your fears and finding your way home. The story was beautifully written, had great cadence throughout and the illustrations were stunning. My children especially loved Grimm as the main character, a beautiful Finnish Lapphund. This story was also a great way to talk about the unique setting on Svalbard and how it is different than our life in Canada.
This was a great read and we will definitely purchase a book when it is released.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*received from Netgalley
I liked that the author included real pictures of Grim and her home in Svalbard and talked about how that influenced the book at the end. I think that is a great learning tool for kids to see how fiction is influenced by reality. This was a cute little animal story following Grim on an adventure. It also gave good factual information about another geographic area. This would be great to include if you were doing an Around the World study.
I liked that the author included real pictures of Grim and her home in Svalbard and talked about how that influenced the book at the end. I think that is a great learning tool for kids to see how fiction is influenced by reality. This was a cute little animal story following Grim on an adventure. It also gave good factual information about another geographic area. This would be great to include if you were doing an Around the World study.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy from NetGalley for my honest review.
Oh my word, this book was so good! The cadence, the illustration, everything was just perfection. My four year old daughter was locked in on the story in a way I've rarely seen her do with "longer" books. But this was written so beautifully that it held you captivated. I loved Grim's story.
Oh my word, this book was so good! The cadence, the illustration, everything was just perfection. My four year old daughter was locked in on the story in a way I've rarely seen her do with "longer" books. But this was written so beautifully that it held you captivated. I loved Grim's story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Cecilia and Grim! Watching their adventures turned into an informative book about life on Svalbard is amazing. It funny, cute and the artwork is phenomenal.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for an ARC of this book. Publication date is September 29, 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for an ARC of this book. Publication date is September 29, 2026.
September 29, 2026
The Polar Night Adventure
This was & is a beautifully delightful book. I loved this story about Grin's adventure in the Arctic. He met so many wonderful animals and best of all he was able to find his way home to his best friend Cecilia.
This was & is a beautifully delightful book. I loved this story about Grin's adventure in the Arctic. He met so many wonderful animals and best of all he was able to find his way home to his best friend Cecilia.
September 30, 2026
I was so excited to receive this book in the mail! I pre-ordered a while ago. The books is beautiful! The art work stunning! I loved following along with Grim and meeting all of his attic friends while at the same time learning about Svalbard, the polar night, and all the magic it has to offer!
October 1, 2026
Beautifully written and illustrated. A story of Grim, a Finnish Lapphund who finds himself navigating a polar night without his best friend. Very sweet and relaxing. I think this will be a popular bedtime story.
October 2, 2026
Such a fun and sweet story. I’m a long time fan of Grim from Cecilia’s YouTube videos and this was a delightful little treat of a story with beautiful illustrations and charm.
For the pet/animal lovers and kids in your life, I highly recommend!!
For the pet/animal lovers and kids in your life, I highly recommend!!
October 3, 2026
A very cute, whimsical book set around one of my favorite dogs, Grim! The illustrations are stunning and the story captures so much of life during the Polar Night! Highly recommend and cannot wait to continue to read this many times over to my baby as he gets older!
October 4, 2026
I greatly enjoyed reading about Grim's adventure! Beautifully illustrated detailing the cozy vibes of polar night, the magic of the night sky on Svalbard, snow, and of course Grim looking cuter than ever! A fun, quick read for adults too! Thank you Cecilia for another great book!!!
October 5, 2026
My six year old and I watch Grim on YouTube every week and we were so excited to read this book about him. The illustrations are beautiful. Great story! We both loved it! We will be reading it again and again and dreaming we were in the polar night. :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a cute story! We love grim in our house so I read this book with my 8 year old and she loved it. This art is so cute, I can’t get over it!
September 30, 2026
A sweet story and beautiful artwork.. loved every bit of this book!!
October 1, 2026
This book is so cute! I got it for my friend’s son and read it to make sure it was age appropriate! I am so happy I got it for him!
October 1, 2026
So freakin' cute!!!
October 1, 2026
This is such a cute book! Full of wildlife and wisdom. The art is also top tier.
Read
October 1, 2026Beautiful book with an adventurous story. Love the illustrations.
October 2, 2026
Sweetest story, so good for the heart. And the most gorgeous illustrations!
October 2, 2026
I loved reading about Grim's adventures! If he can face all Svalbard can throw at him he can defeat those parquet floors!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story was exactly what I love in a children’s book: beautifully vibrant illustrations, and a story full of adventure, life lessons, and positive encouragement.
The magic of the arctic is really hard to capture in words, and I loved that this book helped it come to life for readers to enjoy.
Many thanks to DK and NetGalley for this eARC. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to add to my library when it is available.
The magic of the arctic is really hard to capture in words, and I loved that this book helped it come to life for readers to enjoy.
Many thanks to DK and NetGalley for this eARC. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to add to my library when it is available.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews