Description
On a cold winter morning in 1952, Patsy Lamondin wakes to the day electricity will finally be connected to her small town along the Magnetawan River.
Patsy and her siblings buzz with excitement, eagerly awaiting the ceremony being held at the center of town. The Lamondins have lived along the waters of Georgian Bay and the Magnetawan River for generations. They are a Métis family who love music, dancing and being outdoors, and Patsy ponders how electricity will change all of their daily lives. What she knows for sure is that, whatever changes, she will always feel she belongs here.
Author Bio
Pat Lamondin Skene retired from the world of banking to find her voice. She is a Métis author of several books for children, including the picture book Lights along the River and the Orca Echoes titles One Beaded Earring, What a Hippopota-Mess!, Rhyme Stones and Monster Lunch. Much of Pat's inspiration comes from her many travels, and memories of her childhood growing up in a Métis community on the Magnetawan River. Pat keeps her imagination fed and watered in Oakville, Ontario.
Sabrina Gendron has a degree in visual arts from Cégep de Ste-Foy, as well as 2D/3D animation from Collège Bart. She loves to work on animation and visual arts projects and has illustrated a number of French-language books. Her art is colorful and lively and will make you want to dive into the worlds she has created. Sabrina lives in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec.
Prizes
- CCBC Best Books for Kids & TeensCommended 2024
- First Nation Communities Read Awards (FNCR) - Children’sLong-listed 2026
- BC Books for SchoolsCommended 2024
- Indigenous Books for SchoolsCommended 2024
Review Quotes
“A great reminder to prioritize family and the outdoors, no matter what innovations come our way. I highly recommend it.”
— The Historical Novel Society, Historical Novels Review (HNR)“Inspired by the author’s childhood growing up Metis and French, and the changes technology brought to her small town, it has a nostalgic tone. This Canadian historical picture book may find a home in units on unearthing family stories or in writing creative nonfiction.”
— School Library Journal (SLJ)“An authentic depiction of life in Canada in 1952...Teachers/caregivers can use this book with units of study about then and now, Metis culture, and Canada in the 1950’s. Children will enjoy reading this book or having it read to them. Highly Recommended.”
— Canadian Teacher Magazine“Digital artwork offers a realistic setting that is sure to spark conversations about life in rural areas in the 1950s.”
— Sal's Fiction Addiction“Tailor-made for elementary classrooms…Serves as an excellent conversation starter, sparking [students'] curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions. The story not only entertains but also educates, providing valuable insights into the history of electricity in small towns, the role of lighthouses, and the treatment of Indigenous people during the 1950s. The beautiful and colourful illustrations enhance the book’s appeal, making it a must-have for any elementary school classroom or library.”
— Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)“Using humour and warm-hearted descriptions of family life, the author explores the curiosity, anticipation, and wonder felt as lights get turned on by a switch on the wall. The colourful, detailed illustrations set the mood for a nostalgic look at the simple pleasures of family life before and after electricity comes to a typical Canadian town.”
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials“The colourful illustrations in this book help to transmit a joyful and excited mood within this author’s pleasant memories.”
— Indigenous Books for SchoolsBiographical note
Pat Lamondin Skene retired from the world of banking to find her voice. She is a Métis author of seven books for children, including What a Hippopota-Mess, Rhyme Stones and Monster Lunch. Her forthcoming memoir, Swiftly Flowing Waters, shares more stories of her childhood growing up on the Magnetawan River. Pat keeps her imagination fed and watered in Oakville, Ontario.
Sabrina Gendron has a degree in visual arts from Cégep de Ste-Foy and in 2D/3D animation from Collège Bart. She loves to work on animation and visual arts projects and has illustrated a number of French-language books. Sabrina lives in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec.
