[3] In their critical review of Canadian children's books, The New Republic of Childhood, Sheila Egoff and Judith Saltman describe The Golden Pine Cone as "ahead of its time.

That night, an evil giant named Nasookin comes, seeking the Golden Pine Cone, which is really an earring, belonging to Tekontha (Ooshka, who can talk, tells them this).

The Pearlies tell them that the Lake Snake still has the pine cone, and, if they slay him, they will give them Onamara's Heart back.

Nasookin cares for them, and it is revealed he has a crush on Lucy (he nicknamed her "Little Squirrel"), who thinks that he is not as bad as they had originally assumed.

He cares for them, and gets the Squareheads to give them a ride to Tekontha's Valley, but the sleighs crash at the Ice Witch's castle.

As a reward for saving him, the Mammoth then takes them the rest of the way to Tekontha's Valley, where they return the Golden Pine Cone, and free Ooshka and Nasookin of their crimes.