Price: $18.99 - $10.79
(as of Feb 26, 2025 00:04:03 UTC – Details)
In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper’s beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis’s strikingly resonant illustrations.
So the shortest day came,
and the year died . . .
As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem “The Shortest Day” captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!
From the Publisher
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“It’s a work that confers classic gifts: time to look and time to wonder.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The entire story unfolds on the same small stretch of ground, where each new detail is integral to the scene at hand. Effortlessly working on many levels, Ellis’ newest is outstanding.”
— Booklist (starred review)
“Ellis offers a strange, thrilling logic and invites readers to engage with a concept fundamental to children’s experience: liminality.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Publisher : Candlewick (October 22, 2019)
Language : English
Hardcover : 32 pages
ISBN-10 : 0763686980
ISBN-13 : 978-0763686987
Reading age : 3 – 11 years, from customers
Grade level : Preschool – 3
Item Weight : 13.6 ounces
Dimensions : 10.61 x 0.36 x 9.38 inches
Customers say
Customers enjoy the beautiful illustrations that interpret the poem visually. They find the book lovely and interesting, a must-read for the holidays. The story connects us with past centuries and provides a template for teachings related to the play of light. Readers describe the story as nice, magical, and captivating. It is a seasonal favorite for years to come and a perfect book for solstice celebrations.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
