Beyond Alaska's Window

An endlessly charming picture book about how a Jamaican family living in Alaska keeps its culture alive.

While it may be cold and snowy outside their window, for a Jamaican family living in Alaska, it is warm and cozy inside their kitchen. No matter the weather, Mama's Sunday cooking of chicken, rice and peas, and ackee reminds them of beaches and sunshine.

As a child of Jamaican immigrants who was raised in Alaska, author Patrice Gopo guides young readers through the seasons in Alaska and how one family keeps their culture present in their lives, even when home is very far away. And illustrator Monica Mikai stunningly brings the majestic landscape of Alaska to life. Complete with an author's note, glossary, and recipe, Beyond Alaska's Window celebrates two distinct places and cultures with adoration and love.

Patrice Gopo is an award-winning essayist and picture book writer. Her essay "That Autumn" recieved a notable mention from The Best American Essays 2020, and her essay collection Autumn Sun was a recipient of the inaugural Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award. Her picture books All the Places We Call Home and Ripening Time are both inspired by her essays. She is also the child of Jamaican immigrants, and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She currently lives with her family in North Carolina.

You can visit her online at PatriceGopo.com or follow her on Instagram @PatriceGopo.

Monica Mikai is the illustrator of several picture books, including My Name Is a Story by Ashanti and Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens. She has a BA in art and elementary education from Rider University and an MFA in painting from the New York Studio School. With every piece, her hope is to convey the beauty and tenderness of the human experience. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband and two sons.

You can visit her online at MonicaMikai.com or follow her on Instagram @MonicaMikai.

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
  
• Publish Date: November 10, 2026
  
• Pages: 32
  
• Language: English
  
• Type: Hardcover
  
• EAN/UPC: 9780593692530
  
• Dimensions: 8.5 X 10.5 X 0.0 inches | 1.3 pounds
  
• BISAC Categories: Kids