Review by Booklist Review
On a glorious snowy night, two children are restless. They've been sent to bed, but the excitement in the air is too much, and they join the adults who are also patiently awaiting the arrival of the Ojibwe horses--five mares and a stallion-- who will start a new herd at Lac La Croix. Behind this exciting event is an important backstory that the elder Nookomis tells the children. In the old days, before vehicles, the Indigenous people of Lac La Croix lived in concert with herds of wild ponies. The ponies helped with labor and were cared for by the people who set them free once the work was complete. This symbiosis, like so many other aspects of Indigenous life, was destroyed by settler colonialism, and a time came when there were only four ponies left. The people hatched a plan to transport them to safety, where they survived and bred. Now the descendants of the original four have returned. Across the Ice tells this little-known story through the gentle voice of Nookomis, along with glowing illustrations in a vibrant palette and clean, crisp lines. This is a fictionalized story based on true events, and readers will be inspired to use the sources in the back matter to learn more. This gorgeous book is a must-read in ELA and social-studies classes.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--The Ojibwe horse is a wild breed once reduced to only four horses in Canada's Lac La Croix First Nation. When their horses faced extermination by the Canadian government, they smuggled them across the border into Minnesota. The story is told from the first-person perspective of a child listening to their grandmother tell this true story of a daring operation towing a trailer full of horses across a frozen lake. Readers must take in the action secondhand. The first-person narrative style muddles the fact-based aspects of the story. It is unclear if the conversation happened or if this family exists. Furthermore, the story is cluttered with unnecessary dialogue. The horses and people are lovingly illustrated, although some spreads feature awkward proportions and simplistic, flat backdrops. The artist has a strong talent for lighting compositions--the light of the moon, interior lighting, and sun on the snow all glimmer on the page. Back matter includes additional information about the Ojibwe horse and current conservation efforts. VERDICT A story of niche interest, but worthy for larger collections.--Chance Lee Joyner
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Whitecrow (Ojibwe/Dakota; Seine River First Nation Band), with coauthor O'Connor, tells of the rescue of the last four remaining Lac La Croix Indigenous ponies, or Ojibwe horses, from the Canadian government's plan to destroy them in 1977. The book opens in the modern day, as two children wait up late at night for their own Ojibwe horses to arrive at the farm. To distract the children, their grandmother retells the story of that daring wintertime rescue over a frozen lake. The framing narrative sets up a sense of anticipation that carries through until the end of the book. The excitement of the "heist across the ice" is likely to appeal to young children (and slightly older ones may ask why the Canadian government planned to shoot the wild ponies). Donovan's (Metis Canadian; illustrator of When the Stars Came Home, rev. 9/23) vibrant illustrations show the indoor family scenes in warm coral pinks and sunny yellows, while the snowy landscape is white and blue. Later, during the rescue narrative, all of those colors appear, suggesting an integration of the people with their landscape. The illustrations depict contemporary, twentieth-century, and historical Ojibwe people in appropriate ways, portraying authentic lived experience and avoiding stereotypes while showing continuity between the past and the present. Lara K. AaseNovember/December 2025 p.59 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The heroic tale of how an Ojibwe community protected a horse species on the brink of extinction. One chilly night, two children at Lac La Croix First Nation--located in northwestern Ontario--struggle to sleep. The "buzz of aunties and uncles and cousins" fills the house; everyone is awake with anticipation. To soothe her grandchildren, Nookomis tells a story. Years ago, Ojibwe people and horses shared the land and forged a unique relationship. But the Canadian government considered wild ponies "a nuisance and a health hazard," and by 1977, their numbers were reduced to a mere four. "We had to save them," says Nookomis. "But how?" The community decided to capture the four horses and transport them across the frozen lake to Minnesota. Eventually, the herd's numbers grew. The narrative comes full circle as we find out why the family is so excited; they're starting a herd of their own and have been awaiting the arrival of six new horses. Whitecrow (Ojibwe/Dakota) and O'Connor have crafted a quiet yet enthusiastic tale that glides along beautifully. Their prose is simple yet enchanting, each well-chosen word imbued with emotion, building anticipation and drawing readers in. Using vibrant colors and pockets of light, Donovan (Métis) makes the night feel cozy. Illuminating details emphasize the community's strength in its fight against the harmful government policies, as well as the younger generation's care for the Ojibwe horse. A deeply moving exploration of community and human-animal connection. (afterword)(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
