Under Alaska's Midnight Sun

by Deb Vanasse, Jeremiah Trammell (Illustrator)

In the far northern parts of the world, near and above the Arctic Circle, summer days are very long. In Barrow, Alaska, for example, the sun rises in May and sets 83 days later, in early August. During this time, the sun shines all through the night. People call it the midnight sun. When the midnight sun is shining, people and animals stay active even at night. This sweet poetic narrative, illustrated by award-winner Jeremiah Trammell, showcases the many pleasures of this unique time as a little girl dances, fishes, plays games, watches moose and fox, and communes with family and nature.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Summer, Fiction, Travel

32 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2005

About the author

Deb Vanasse is the award-winning author of 18 books of fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in history, historical fiction, and nature. Her newest book is Roar of the Sea. She grew up in the Midwest, attended college in Northern Minnesota, and earned a Masters in the Humanities from California State/Dominguez Hills. After 36 years in Alaska, she now lives on Oregon’s north coast, enjoying beach walks with her boxer dog.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely and fun book! I am so sad to see that it does not have any reviews here yet!!!! This is the sweet story of a little girl, her baby brother and her mom as they explore Alaska's great outdoors on the eve of the summer solstice--the longest day of the year in Alaska, where one can celebrate midnight under the bright, bright sun. I guess in many parts of Alaska they stay up until midnight with celebrations--like a bright, warm summer New Year's Eve!!! ;-> This captures not only the beauty of Alaska's wilderness but the delight and awe that the young girls finds in her surroundings and the excitement of being able to stay up until midnight--outside!!!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young Alaskan girl, anxious to be up and about at midnight, on the day of the Summer Solstice, explores the natural world around her with her mother and younger brother, in Deb Vanasse's poetic picture-book, Under Alaska's Midnight Sun. Hiding in the grasses to observe the baby ducks, picking wild roses to make crowns, and witnessing a majestic bald eagle as it soars by, the girl and her family eventually make their way to the top of a hill, where they await the coming of a bright midnight...

One of those books that I like better in theory, than in practice, Under Alaska's Midnight Sun has a lot going for it: it's a celebration of the Summer Solstice (I wish there were more books about the four cardinal points of the solar year!), and has a cute concept (a little girl wants to stay up until midnight!) to which young readers will easily relate. Unfortunately, despite these undoubted virtues, I just didn't take the story to heart as I had expected to do, and the artwork didn't appeal to me. There's really nothing wrong with this book, but it just didn't speak to me. Still, children who are looking for stories about the Summer Solstice, or about Alaska in summer, will probably enjoy it, and might want to give it a try.

[Bre Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaska, Summer, Sun, Wildlife, Science
Vanasse, Deb. Under Alaska’s Midnight Sun. Illustrated by Jeremiah Trammell. WA: Sasquatch Books, 2005. Unp. Primary.
A sweet and cute story about a little girl that is so excited for the longest day of the year in Alaska. When they day finally comes, she explains what all she does with her family which include skipping through the meadow with fireweed, fishing, picking flowers, an looking at moose. This is a great book to introduce summer solstice as part of a science lesson about Alaska!
Alaska Connection: Longest Day of the Year, Alaskan Wildlife, Alaskan Berries, Alaska’s Sun
Related Activity: Draw and explain what all you would do on Alaska’s longest day of the year

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

The text doesn't really explain much about 'midnight sun' so I expect questions from a young audience. I'd also spend a minute or so on the page with the moose and her calf. Here, the young girl "creeps close to see if we'll be friends in the midnight sun." Not wise. Humans should just stand back quietly and observe.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that celebrates the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. A little girl and her brother are excited and celebrate throughout the day, trying hard to stay awake until midnight when the sun will still be up.

Fun fact: in Barrow, Alaska, the sun rises in May and sets eighty-three days later, in early August!

Ages: 4 - 8

#geography #northamerica #alaska #summersolstice

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[T Crockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this a few times with preschoolers and it's a bit of a hard sell. Very little actually happens and the whole concept of the midnight sun has to be explained. It's this last part that does seem to convince them to give it a chance.

[Xiao Yu]

Gift from Grandma Sollner - August 2007 (from Alaska Cruise)

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vibrant celebration of beauty and life in the far north.