The Christmas Book Flood

by Emily Kilgore, Kitty Moss (Illustrator)

This lovely and lyrical picture book, based on a real Icelandic tradition, brings all the sparkle and anticipation of Christmas--and of the joys of reading--to the page.

The northern lights dance,
snow blankets the ground,
it's the Christmas season--so the Book Flood begins!

People plan and they dream,
and they visit the shops
for books to give loved ones, and families, and friends.

And when Christmas Eve comes,
they'll share magical stories,
curl up by the fire, and read, read, read, read...

With gorgeous artwork and a diverse cast of characters, Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss's The Christmas Book Flood is a surefire holiday classic.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Books About Books, Childrens, Fiction, Cultural

34 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It’s absolutely magical. I love the tradition; one I’d never heard of until I read Kathryn’s review of this book. I love the storytelling style. I adore the illustrations. There are so many details to view on every page. They’re really special. I appreciate the author’s note at the end. This book would make a perfect Christmas gift. Even better maybe a winter solstice gift to give time for everyone to buy some just right, perfect books to give as gifts for Christmas Eve reading. This is a lovely, gorgeous, emotionally moving, and overall great picture book. A perfect book for anyone who loves reading. A perfect book for anyone who celebrates Christmas. I like it as much as I like Patricia Polacco's picture books and that is high praise.

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do feel a trifle curmudgeonly and also somewhat guilty considering only a low three star rating for The Christmas Book Flood (2022), and indeed, if I were in fact ONLY to be considering Emily Kilgore's featured text, my rating for The Christmas Book Flood would certainly, would most definitely be solidly four stars.

For yes, I both enjoy and also majorly appreciate in The Christmas Book Flood Kilgore's expressive free form poetical celebration of a lovely and wonderful Icelandic Yuletide tradition (the book flood of the title, the Jólabókaflóðið in Icelandic), lyrically delightful both form and contents wise (and that the Jólabókaflóðið is also something that should unilaterally appeal to book lovers both young and old, not to mention this also being something that deserves and even needs to be emulated on a global scale), with my only (rather mild) textual criticisms for The Christmas Book Flood being that there is (at least for me personally speaking) a bit too much of a negative textual focus on winter as being oh so potentially dark and depressing in Iceland with regard to weather and shorter and shorter days emanating from Emily Kilgore's pen, that the otherwise excellent author's note for The Christmas Book Flood should in my opinion also contain a few websites with further information on both Iceland and on the Jólabókaflóðið, and that perhaps within the text proper of The Christmas Book Flood, some added Icelandic words would add an increased and more authentic sense of geographic place.

But as much as I have for the most part textually majorly liked (and even adored) what Emily Kilgore has written in The Christmas Book Flood, the lack of visual realism regarding Kitty Moss' accompanying artwork (well, at least for two very essential and important aspects thereof) leaves me not only rather disappointed but also somewhat annoyed. For one, considering how justifiably proud Icelanders are of their hardy and unique horses (and that other horse breeds are not even allowed to be imported to Iceland), well, that NONE of Moss' depicted equines in The Christmas Book Flood in any way even remotely resemble Icelandic Horses, this does kind of rub me the wrong proverbial aesthetic way and also makes me kind of wonder if Kitty Moss even knows what bona fide Icelandic Horses are supposed to look like.

And for two, although the ethnic diversity of Kitty Moss' illustrations for The Christmas Book Flood is a nice touch in and of itself (or rather could be), considering that Iceland is even today one of the most ethnically homogenous countries of Europe (with over seventy-five percent of Icelanders being of Scandinavian origin and with most immigrants hailing from continental Europe), sorry, but that in Moss' illustrations for The Christmas Book Flood, ethnic diversity is kind of front and centre, with very many dark skinned people and also quite a number of bi-racial couples presented, this just is not all that realistic (in my opinion) and it would actually and thus make a lot more sense if Kitty Moss would depict considerably less ethnic diversity in The Christmas Book Flood (as that would indeed show and represent Icelandic reality), and that even though Moss' general illustrative feel regarding The Christmas Book Flood is nicely visually celebratory and also does a good and colourful job mirroring Emily Kilgore's words, the rather fictitious and basically erroneous depictions of Icelandic Horses and that there is too much pictured ethnic diversity for Iceland, this does most definitely gratingly bother and frustrate me (since yes, The Christmas Book Flood is supposed to represent actual Iceland and an actual Icelandic Christmas, and some parts of Kitty Moss' pictures just for and to me fail to do this).

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this to be insta-love for me (books! Christmas! giving books at Christmas!) but I actually wasn't convinced I loved it the first time I read it. Yet, I kept thinking about it... I went back to it, and I ended up really adoring it. The Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod (giving gifts to loved ones on Christmas Eve and staying up to read them) is, of course, just wonderful and it is nice to see that tradition spotlighted in a picture book. I do understand what some reviewers are saying about the text being a bit too poetical and slightly disjointed. For me, it resonated. I felt the magic of the book-giving at Christmas, the anticipation, the thrill of finding the perfect book for someone you care about, the warmth and togetherness and sense of shared adventure when you all sit around on Christmas Eve and read the books together. happy sigh But, I can see where it might not be concrete enough for some kids, especially the younger picture book crowd. So, maybe a bit of a miss there. My kids listened to it but weren't super enthusiastic. As for the illustrations, again, I wasn't sure at first what I felt about them -- they are decidedly not the usual bright red-and-green Christmas picture book illustrations we are used to here in the USA. But, again, I came to really appreciate the way it conveys a sense of place -- the darkness of Iceland in December and the warmth and light that books bring to people, first that glow of excitement in venturing out to find the perfect book to give, and then the very great pleasure of being cozy warm in your home while being whisked away on adventures in the pages of your books. The collage art was perfect here as it includes book pages and book covers and really conveys much the books are part of the Christmastime culture in Iceland. Author's Note is good and provides some history about the Jolabokaflod. I do think many adult book lovers will share my love of this book, and I’ll be recommending it to my GoodReads friends, but I do suggest previewing it before giving it to the children in your life to see if you feel it will resonate for your particular little ones or miss the mark.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming story! Emily Kilgore's The Christmas Book Flood illustrates the Icelandic tradition of gifting books at Christmastime. Enchanting music and amusing sound effects bring this story to life. I’m sure as a companion to the physical book, this version would be most enjoyable.

A bit of history: the author’s note at the end of the story, explaining how paper wasn’t rationed during wartime, so folks could freely gift them. It became a well-loved tradition which continues today, and has spread all over the world.

an audiobook copy of The Christmas Book Flood was provided to me by Macmillan Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Annissa Joy Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Reading is magic when you have the right books to read”

Families gather together on Christmas Eve and give a book to each family member in Iceland. Then they read and have chocolate or hot cocoa and read all night!!! This tradition is spreading to other countries too!!!

I listened to the audio and it was a complete experience with music and sounds!! Loved it!!

This one comes out on Nov 1 and would be a great holiday gift for children.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand the hype for this one.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, a tradition of giving books as gifts and reading on Christmas Eve is appealing to me! I could stare for hours at these colorful, magical illustrations, trying to catch each small detail. “Reading is magic—when you have the right book.”

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like it was only a matter of time before someone would publish a picture book about this Icelandic bookish tradition when it became more common knowledge a few years ago. And this one is lovely.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like it well enough to write a review. And yes, I knew about the Icelandic tradition of giving books on Christmas eve, but was not expecting a story that was so disjointed or one that didn’t carry any story line that was easy to follow.

[Maureen K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated!
I spent an hour just looking at the pictures. There’s something hidden everywhere in the illustrations.
I would like to start this Book Flood tradition with my friends and family. I had never heard of it.
Again, simply beautiful!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was more of a poem and not what I expected. I would have preferred more of a story told from someone's perspective instead. However, I absolutely LOVE the art in this book! It's awesome and unique! Highly recommend flipping through this book just to look at the art if you don't want to read it. I also really enjoyed the author's note at the end of the story explaining that the Christmas Book Flood is an Icelandic tradition and how they came to write this book. Super interesting! Love the tradition!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you heard of the Icelandic tradition of the Book Flood?

One little girl is desperate to find that perfect book to give as a gift. Can she do it before the Book Flood starts?

The illustrations by Kitty Moss are mind-boggling, eye-catching, vibrant, and magical. They combine actual book page and book spine art as well as the illustrations by Moss.
Emily Kilgore introduces the world in what might be one of the first children's books about the tradition of the Book Flood.
I think that everyone everywhere should make this a tradition. I think I just might...

[Althea Graber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a real Icelandic tradition. I was inspired.

[Amyruszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a beautiful day reading Christmas books to my youngest

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the lyrical rendition of a long-held holiday tradition from Iceland.

Winter has set firmly in, in this beautiful country and folks are preparing for the tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve. They read reviews and visit bookstore shelves to plan the perfect choices for family and friends. Everyone is joyful and filled with excitement. Folks stream into the bookshop to make their long-awaited purchases. Then everyone heads home to celebrate in homes hung with festive decorations, sparkling lights, sumptuous food, and loving friends and family.
Then comes the best part of all, snuggling up by the fire with hot chocolate and hours of reading their newly gifted books.

I didn’t realize this was a picture book until I began the audio. I know I missed oozy by not seeing the illustrations, but the audio was all but mesmerising.
This is a definite addition to your Christmas book collection.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book and I think the tradition is wonderful. My family valued books as a gift as well. Beautiful illustrations. Highly recommend this book!

[Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does not work well as an audiobook. It is clearly meant as a picture book and I'm sure the illustrations are lovely, but there's not enough story there for an audio.

I'm also uncomfortable with the way this writer was chosen to write about the subject. She is not from Iceland. She just thinks the tradition is neat and answered an open call for an author to write about it. Surely there is an Icelandic author who could have been approached to tell this story in a more meaningful way? Someone for whom the tradition was an actual tradition and part of their own life experience? I think this book could have had more magic if written by someone for whom it was more than just a story they'd heard.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was definitely predisposed to love this book with the words Christmas and Book in the Title and snow on the cover! I'm in the middle of 3 adult books right now and when this lovely book arrived at my door, I swooped it up and enjoyed it!

It is about the lovely Icelandic tradition of giving books at Christmas.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars--Imagine a holiday tradition that's all about giving--and reading--books! This is a magical, ethereal book about a real-life tradition in Iceland. Each page swirls with color and activity. There are a lot of vocabulary-building words in the text that may be unfamiliar for the picture-book set, so be prepared to recite some definitions if you're reading this aloud to little ones.

[Nashelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* - Oh dear, I expected to love this one. The Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið would seem to lend itself perfectly to a picture book filled with cozy, contented, bookish cheer. Sadly, I found the text fragmented, the artwork chaotic, and both unfocused.

[Shawn-Joy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this book.

I listened to this one with my three youngest children (ages 6, 8 and 10) and we all enjoyed it. They loved the story and I loved learning about the tradition. Books are a big deal to me and helping my children learn to appreciate them is important to me.

This was wonderfully written and beautifully narrated.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy picture book for kids about giving books on Christmas Eve and spending the night reading. This audiobook was well done with music and sound effects and just made what’s already a lovely book a magical delight. There is an Icelandic tradition called johodkflood and this is a more international version of that tradition. This is a tradition that would be lovely to see families pass on or start as a new tradition for themselves.

[Bethany Harnden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book illuminates the Icelandic tradition of "flooding" your friends and family with books as gifts to enjoy reading all night long on Christmas Eve. The enchanting illustrations have a vibrant depth and mingle realistic and fantastic elements. Learning about this tradition, conveyed with such excitement flying off the pages, hopefully encourages all readers to "flood" their own world with books.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun little book about the Icelandic tradition of giving books on. Christmas Eve. I enjoyed this so much that I bought each of my students a book, wrapped it with instructions not to open until until Christmas Eve, and then made a video of myself reading this book and instructing them to open their book and enjoy a Christmas book flood of their own.
My family also decided to participate in this festivity and we each went and picked out a new book to enjoy on Christmas Eve this year.

[Bonnie Westmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 61 year old self and I’ve read it over and over. I even read it aloud and shared it to Facebook as a gift! This is my new favorite Christmas book. I think I’ll move to Iceland! The pictures are just as amazing as the words! You’ll love it- especially if you love books!

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute. I loved the narrator and the sounds throughout the story. The story was perfect for Christmas. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth]

I loved the illustrations. The text was lovely too, so I hope it is appreciated by its audience.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of this tradition!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most exquisite illustrations I’ve ever seen - loved this book so much