Patricia MacLachlan died last March, but with the pace of publishing it's not surprising that there would still be projects floating around waiting to be published, even without digging through the backlog of unfinished manuscripts. Sometimes this is a regrettable practice, but when paired with Micha Archer's glorious collage illustrations, this is a New Year's classic that will appeal to families who like traditional, small town stories with a more diverse cast and a perfect pairing with their previous collaboration, Prairie Days.
In a snowy, rural area, the fields covered with strips of blue and white paper, the trees a scribble of black and white collage images, Jenny harnesses two horses to a large sleigh and sets out for first night. They drive through the snow and into town where people celebrate "the last night of the old year" with music, lights, and a sleigh ride through the small town. They visit a nursing home and take some of the residents for a ride, and finally return home, where Jenny settles the horses to sleep in the red barn with the sheep, and they wait for the sun to rise on a new year.
I'd never heard of First Night - apparently it is a tradition started in Boston in the 1970s of a simple community celebration. I'm not sure how that translates to a sleigh ride in a rural town, but it's a sweet story and even if it's not an old tradition it feels like it! Archer's stunning collages shine with snowflakes and stars and delicate touches like a wisp of lace for curtains and textured wooden floors by a crackling fire. MacLachlan's prose makes for a readable, peaceful story, even though it is somewhat lengthy or a read-aloud.
Verdict: A festive story that celebrates a relatively recent community tradition families may want to adopt and an excellent seasonal read for storytimes, although it may need to be edited to shorten it for younger audiences.
ISBN: 9781534473553; Published November 2022 by Margaret K. McElderry; Review copy provided by publisher
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