BILLIE AND BEAN IN THE MOUNTAINS

Billie experiences a moment of magic in the snow.

Billie, Mom, and Bean, their round gray dog, ride the bus to the ski slopes. Last year, Mom pulled Billie in a sled, but this year, Billie’s enrolled in ski school. Mom, ensconced in a chair on the ski lodge’s porch with a warm mug and a blanket over her knees, “has been busy at work” and “needs to rest.” Joined by Bean, she watches Billie but soon falls asleep. A cautious skier, Billie slowly snowplows all the way on her first run down. Back at the bottom of the slope, Billie doesn’t want to ride the ski lift again. A poster about dog sledding gives Bean a clever idea, and she hitches Bean to a small toboggan. At first the ride is lovely, but Bean shakes free, and Billie finds herself in a snowdrift under the dark, snow-laden branches of the trees. The way out isn’t apparent until a white-coated ermine leads the way. “How did you find your way back to the slope?” Billie’s friend asks her on the bus home. “It’s a secret,” replies Billie. The simple story, translated from Swedish, captures the uncertainties and triumphs of childhood, all of which may seem small to adults but are larger-than-life to youngsters. The crisp yet gentle illustrations make terrific use of color and perspective. Billie and Mom are brown-skinned; theirs is a diverse community.

Another just-right adventure with this appealing duo, sure to reassure and embolden the very young.