children's humor/adventure/fantasy fiction
likeable and silly story created by author/illustrator team Philip Reeve and friend Sarah McIntyre. #3 in the series (starring different characters--this one features Shen (abandoned cabinboy from an ice-wrecked ship), Sika (little girl living in Arctic village), a woman with a beard, 66 pugs, and other unlikely heroes). ( )

This is a delightful book. Funny, great illustrations, whimsical, diverse, and compelling, with silliness and poignant moments too. I read it in one sitting, and immediately decided I need to buy it for myself soon. Friends, Helga is SO GREAT omg. I really loved all of these characters so much. ( )

This book was hilarious and awesome. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it started right in with the adventure. Shen and Sika are great protagonists (and I coded Sika and her family as Inuit or some other northern indigenous people which is nice).

I really especially loved Helga Hammerfest, who has polar bears pull her sled and who is big and strong and owns the shit out of her fabulous beard.

"Most ladies don't care for beards, but I find mine helps to keep my chin warm in the frozen north. You should try growing yours, Miss Mitzi."
I can't even with this lady. She knows what she's into (polar bears, winter) and she just does her.
Here's a blog post from Sarah McIntyre, the illustrator, about Helga Hammerfest and the #nonidentikit challenge that she created to introduce more diversity into female characters! Love. ( )

What do you get when you mix an eye-catching cover, cute little drawings on every page, adorable illustrations, and a good opening hook? You get this book. This was a superb read, charming in every way, from little details on math -sixty-six pugs wear the sleeves of thirty-three sweaters because a sweater has two sleeves a piece- to how it handles such a bizarre situation and masters it perfectly.

I could not recommend this more, it's whimsical and wild, pick it up if you ever see it for sale, you won't be disappointed! ( )

New friends Sika and Shen try to beat the odds and win the Great Northern Race--in a sled pulled by a team of sixty-six pugs--in hopes of meeting the Snowfather and having him grant their wish. ( )