A seemingly normal trip to buy ice cream at the beach leads to an unexpected icy adventure.

During a seemingly normal family trip to the beach, Oliver becomes bored. He decides to get an ice cream, but as he reaches in to grab his favourite flavour, he falls… into an enchanting icy wonderland. Together with his new Arctic animal friends, Oliver explores this magical depiction of the frozen North.

• Compelling, beautifully designed, and wonderfully imaginative illustrations of a winter wonderland, with realistic Arctic animals.
• A great resource for STEM units for teaching children about Arctic animals and the melting Arctic.

The Author

They say to “write what you know”, so as Matthew Long spends a lot of time accidentally falling into new worlds and riding walruses, trying to find a way home, he writes about things like that. When Matthew is not on make-believe adventures, he goes on real ones: travelling the world; working with children; fixing up an old Victorian terrace in Cambridgeshire; and relaxing in his cottage garden. Matthew has a degree in Film, obtained in Cornwall, England. He has also lived for some time in Norway. Both locations helped shape the worlds in which his characters live.

The Illustrator

Marlene Gerlyng wanted to be an illustrator from an early age when she read folktales while growing up in Norway. She moved to England, gaining a BA in Illustration at Falmouth University College. She taught art at foundation level in Norway and ran art courses for young children. Following this, Marlene gained an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Levels

Guided Reading Level: N

Grade Level Equivalent: 3

Educational Description

Picture book, Story elements: setting; beach, plot and character development, main character, Oliver, style: dream sequence, Illustrations enhance meaning and tone, Comprehension strategies: identify cause and effect relationships and changes from beginning to end of the story, make text to self connections. Themes: creative imagination, keeping yourself occupied.

Interest Age: 6 to 11 years

Reading Age: 8 to 9 years

Hardback: $22.99 978-1-76036-085-6

Paperback: $15.99 978-1-76036-150-1

Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic

World rights available, except for Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US.