The Shortest Day

The Shortest DayIn 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

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

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 10/22/2019
ISBN: 9780763686987
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 9.10h x 10.40w x 0.50d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 07/15/2019
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2019 pg. 137
School Library Journal 10/01/2019 pg. 57
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2019 pg. 28
Shelf Awareness 11/29/2019