PUFFLINGS FLY FREE!

An Icelandic rescue tradition pairs conservation urgency with childhood determination.

Paeff chronicles pale-skinned young Freya’s nighttime adventures on Iceland’s Westman Islands, where children stay up late during puffling season to rescue baby puffins that have landed in town instead of in the water. Drawing inspiration from a real-life brigade of volunteers known as the Puffling Patrol, the matter-of-fact narrative captures Freya’s determination to catch a puffling on her own after multiple fumbles, building to a satisfying moment of triumph. Ólafsdóttir’s gouache and colored pencil illustrations are dazzling, particularly in their sophisticated use of light and perspective. Nocturnal scenes glow with the luminescence of flashlight beams cutting through darkness and the ethereal shimmer of northern lights, while dramatic shifts in viewpoint—from aerial perspectives of the sleeping island to intimate close-ups of Freya and a puffling crouched by an excavator—create visual dynamism. The spreads depicting Freya’s failed rescue attempts demonstrate masterful use of white space, with sequential vignettes floating against emptiness to emphasize both the humor and frustration of a puffling escape. Diverse children work together with genuine camaraderie throughout. Extensive backmatter explains why pufflings need rescuing, details the Puffling Patrol’s origins, explains that children are especially well suited to this work (pufflings often hide in “kid-sized spaces”) and addresses the sobering reality of declining puffin populations due to climate change.

An engaging blend of personal narrative and environmental education.