Freya and the Snake, written by Fredrik Sonck and illustrated by Jenny Lucander. Translated by B.J. Woodstein. Kids Can Press, 2025. $23.99 ages 5 and up

 

"He lifts the oar. And he kills Snakey. 
I see the whole thing from the porch. 
Snakey slithers around on the ground
for a moment. And then goes completely 
still."

The family is at the lake when Freya's brother spots a 'worm'. Freya is quick to correct him, letting him know the worm is really a snake. Mom and Dad come over in a hurry. They do not want a snake anywhere near their little one. The snake disappears. Freya suggests calling it Snakey. 

Dad has a plan to capture the snake, per instructions provided in a book he has read. He will put it in a bucket and carry it away, never to return. The children watch as Dad carves a snake hook. Snakey is too smart for Dad and avoids his many attempts at capture. Dad doesn't give up. Oar in hand and Snakey in sight, Dad climbs over the rocks in yet another attempt to trap the elusive snake. Instead, he uses the oar to put an end to Snakey. 

Freya is frantic as she has watched the whole thing. There's blood everywhere; Snakey is no more. Furious with her dad, she will not listen to any excuses. A funeral is arranged without the snake murderer being there. Dad comes back with ice cream. Freya is not buying that. She will NOT talk to her dad. Her sister Julia tries to convince her that Snakey might have hurt them. She even has a story to tell. 

No one can understand why Freya is so upset. She and her dad go for a row on the lake, allowing him to apologize and suggest that next time he will try harder to capture the dreaded snake, not kill it. Freya is allowed to have her say as well. 

"We row farther out. All we can hear is the 
creak of the oars. And the mosquitoes. 
My dad loves me. 
I love him. 
I love a snake-murderer."

Artwork that expresses all the 'feels' on spreads that consist of line drawings, watercolor, and digital collage ensures that everyone's point of view is aired. Death can be jarring and hard to accept, while forgiveness can take time and understanding. The right decision is not always an easy one. Honest and empathetic, it is a book that invites discussion.