The Shortest Day
Readers rate it 4.2 (5 on Hardcover)
33 pages · Released Oct 22, 2019 · Candlewick
Content report card
The Shortest Day parent’s guide: what’s inside
Violence
Language
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
This is a beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book celebrating the winter solstice and themes of light, community, and hope. The text touches on darkness and the 'year dying' in poetic, mythological terms that may feel slightly somber but are presented in a celebratory, peaceful context. It's ideal for introducing children to historical traditions, the natural cycle of seasons, and the universal human need for connection and light during difficult times.
Analyzed by AI · 1 month ago
Read it with your kids?
Rate it and suggest an age to help other parents.
From the publisher
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 f... 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!
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
- Young Adult
- nyt:picture-books=2021-01-10
- New York Times bestseller
- Christmas, fiction
- Children's fiction
- Stories in rhyme
Share this guide
ISBN 9780763686987 · Candlewick