Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A young woman harnesses two Percheron horses for a magical sleigh ride on New Year’s Eve. Archer’s signature scenes set the mood with snowy fields dotted with groupings of trees; an illustration of one of the trees features graceful limbs encircled with collaged images of music notes. Readers follow sheep and Jenny into the barn at dusk as she leads the strong, black horses to the sleigh, attaches bells to their bridles, and turns on the lights outlining four rows of seats. MacLachlan, deftly crafting her narrative with a minimum of well-chosen words, provides the sensory details. Text is presented in blocks of free verse: “The breaths of Tim and / Tom make silver clouds. / The sleigh makes a / whisper sound in the / snow—a comforting / swish, swish, swish.” En route, the vehicle gathers children, some of whom trumpet their excitement from a front porch before hopping aboard. When their turn is over, the elders get a ride, laughing and talking, remembering their own childhood snow play, presented in a sequence of vignettes. Changes in light and perspective maintain interest, as do the patterns of the snowflakes and the starbursts glowing from streetlamps. The warm palette and bold designs of the papers used to depict fabric and floor planks contrast beautifully with the smooth coolness of the wintry landscape. Jenny is brown-skinned; the other characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A quiet, deeply satisfying celebration of the turn of the year and the joy of community. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

On New Year’s Eve, two large, gentle horses named Tim and Tom greet Jenny’s arrival with excitement. Leading them out of the barn, their driver puts on their bridles, hitches them to a large, red sleigh, and turns on its twinkling lights. They walk toward town to the sound of jingling bells and take on their passengers. Children, dressed for the cold night, enjoy riding through town, over the bridge, and back home again. Next, the older residents from “the manor” climb aboard to ride, while talking, laughing, and sharing childhood memories. Afterward, Jenny, Tim, and Tom return home. And the next morning, the townsfolk awaken to a sunny day and trumpets proclaiming a “happy New Year.” In the subtitle, “First Night” refers to the custom in certain communities of celebrating New Year’s Eve with local cultural events. MacLachlan’s lyrical text is a pleasure to read aloud and it works beautifully with the vibrant collage illustrations, created “with handmade papers and inks.” Magical in its ability to conjure the brightness of the snow-covered hills, the crisp clarity of cold air, and the upbeat spirit shared by young and old alike, Archer's artwork recreates classic winter landscapes, brightened at night by sparkling lights. A brilliantly colorful, seasonal picture book.

Publishers Weekly
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Evocative artwork and gentle prose from the creators of Prairie Days distinguish this intergenerational tale about a community that celebrates the last night of the year with sleigh rides for young and old. Tim and Tom, the black Percheron horses who pull the sleigh, “love winter./ They love the snow.” Young Jenny, a child portrayed with brown skin, hitches them up, then takes the reins as “sleigh bells sing.” Archer shows a bird’s-eye view of the sleigh crossing a snowy field, a final splash of sunset splendor across the horizon behind them. The community’s children and adults, portrayed with varied skin tones, appear amid lacy ink and paper-collage landscapes rich with patterns and warm hues. First, the children ride through the sparkling town before bed; then, “grandmothers,/ grandfathers,/ aunts and uncles,/ and longtime friends” take a turn, remembering their own youths. Text by the late MacLachlan captures incidents others might miss (“A little golden dog comes out to run alongside/ the horses—a beacon in the dark”), and the rhythm of the lines lulls while conveying pleasure and excitement. It’s a celebratory winter story that many can share. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)

School Library Journal
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Gr 1–3—The late, great MacLachlan offers a quiet pastoral celebration of New Year's Eve. It is the last night of the year and Tim and Tom, two Percheron horses with gleaming black coats, are excited to be a part of the celebration. First, they head to the market where they pull children around the town in a colorful sleigh. Then, they head to the manor house where they pull grandparents, aunts, uncles, and old friends through the snowy fields. The children and adults are varying skin colors, and one woman is shown wearing a hijab. The blue-hued illustrations transport readers into serene scenery filled with snow. While each scene is washed in cool tones, the lights in the illustrations seem to glow. The details of the collage illustrations are fabulously detailed and intricate, with the clothing on the characters showing many unique patterns. The lacy paper details as snow on the trees are particularly beautiful. VERDICT A sweet, careful book. For communities seeking a unique take on New Year's Eve.—V. Lynn Christiansen

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

On New Year's Eve, young Jenny drives Percheron horses Tim and Tom from their farm to the market for a bustling celebration ("There is laughter and talk" is a refrain) and then back home; a dog gets the cozy last word. MacLachlan's poetic text is hushed ("the sleigh makes a / whisper sound in the / snow -- a comforting / swish, swish, swish") but allows excitement to build ("in every window / of every house / there are little lights. / The town sparkles"). Archer's illustrations, rendered in collage with homemade papers and inks, create luminous landscapes and invite poring over for details. A joyful, homey way to ring in the new year. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.