Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Alaska-set, wildly fun remake of a beloved English fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A 19th century Lewis Carroll classic is reimagined in a contemporary Alaskan setting in ALICE IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. Dressed in a fur-trimmed parka, the dark-haired, tan-skinned Alice "dreamily" follows a white rabbit down a glacial crevasse, where she meets many "outlandish" creatures and moves through many adventures, derived from Carroll's original Alice in Wonderland. Many familiar characters appear, including the White Rabbit, Gryphon, Mock Turtle, Cheshire Cat (here an extinct Smilodon), and the King and Queen of Hearts. Many familiar plot elements unfold, including how Alice shrinks and grows, goes to a tea party, and watches a croquet game all before the trial over stolen tarts. In the end, Alice awakens, surrounded by her sister's playing cards, which appear throughout, often as a border.
Is It Any Good?
Young fantasy fans will find much to enjoy in Alice in a Winter Wonderland, a fast-paced, imaginative reworking of the Lewis Carroll 19th century classic. Some young readers will pore over the dizzying array of busy art that fills the pages with almost endless detail; others will be overwhelmed. The plotlines, characters, and language of the original Alice in Wonderland are here and easily identified, making a side-by-side comparison worthwhile. Jan Brett's dark-haired, tan-skinned Alice may feel more approachable to kids today than the blonde, fair-skinned Alice of Victorian England. The classic is not as widely read today as it once was; here, Brett makes it accessible, and, in so doing, promotes cultural literacy around the Western canon. The text and the art together develop a wild fantasy that hearkens back to Carroll's Alice but moves the action into a magnificent landscape, complete with Alaska's unique landforms and animals.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what's real and what's fantasy in Alice in a Winter Wonderland. Is Alice dreaming the story, or is it real? What evidence do you see?
Alice lets her curiosity guide her into new and strange circumstances. Is she showing courage, or should she show more caution? What would you do if you were Alice? Would you say she shows perseverance in the face of uncertainty, or is she foolish?
The Queen of Hearts sometimes says, "Off with their heads!" What words would you use to describe her? Why?
The illustrations in this book are filled with detail. How do you feel about this style of art? Do you enjoy finding new things to see each time you read, or do the pictures feel too busy to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jan Brett
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : November 26, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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