The Winter Solstice

This is a little too detailed for my 3 year old, but I think will be great by age 4/5. With engaging illustrations it discusses the winter celebrations of many people through history. Without coming out and smacking you in the face with it, the book explains the origins of various religious traditions today, mostly Christian, but also Judaism. We are a non-religious family seeking to inform our kids about the world and give the holidays that mark the seasons some meaning beyond the commercial. This book will become a seasonal favorite. Would buy again.

This is a wonderful way to teach children about the Winter Solstice. It really covers the history up to the modern day. I used it with 2nd graders and it worked out well. Very happy to have finally found a book that discusses the various aspects of the holiday!

This book deserves 5 stars and is for children and adults alike. I read this book a couple of times and then read it to a study group who found it as fascinating as I did. Content and accuracy were well done. Future children will enjoy the poetic and meaningful thought put into this book by the author. A must read for everyone who enjoys magic. Frances Lord

This book was perfect to go along with our discussion of the winter soltice in science and beliefs around the world for social studies. Paring it with The Shortest Day was a bit repetitive but we spread it out and it was a good review.

nice books

This is a great book for children who can read and for children who have secular families. This is my second copy (my first was destroyed by my two year old). This is a must have for a mule-cultural library.

Love this book!!!

We ordered this book as a Winter Solstice gift for our son. We thought it would be a great way to teach about the various solstice traditions over the ages... and while it *does* do this, it's really not that kid friendly. At one point it even talks about human sacrifice! Not okay for a young mind. It is written very much like a history book - it's not very fun to read. Some good point are the illustrations are very nice, and it does talk about many many different traditions which is nice. I think I am just going to edit the text to be more young kid friendly because overall it's a lovely book. It is just small and super illustrated as if it was for a younger child; yet the text is more for an older child. Very odd. Had I known exactly what was in it before hand, I would not have bought it. Too bad things like this aren't in your local book store so you can preview completely before you buy.

Lovely book. Thank you to the author for this! Happy Solstice Everyone!

Fantastic little book that details the older and actual history of "Christmas" which was based on what people could see around them and the changing of the seasons. It is quite funny that 90% of our festive practices and celebrations today are still clearly pagan rituals (Xmas trees, mistletoe, cinnamon, lights in the home, gift giving, and more) yet we have been led to believe different. These original foundations for our Winter festivities just seem much more natural and real to me.

Eine besinnliche Geschichte für Kinder und Erwachsene, die auf subtile Weise hinter christiche Traditionen schaut und den Blick öffnet für andere Denkweisen. Dabei aber nicht belehrend, moralisierend, eigentlich überhaupt nicht irgendwie religiös oder sonstiges. Es werden verschiedene Sonnwend-Traditionen rund um den Globus erzählt: von den Orkney-Inseln, aus dem alten Skandinavien, aus Japan...dabei wird deutlich, wie viele dieser Traditionen heute noch unbewußt unser Weihnachtsfest beeinflussen. Einfühlsam wird erklärt, warum sich die Menschen früher der Natur so verbunden fühlten, und warum man Angst hatte, die Sonne könne nicht wiederkommen. Am Ende des Buches steht ein wunderschönes Märchen über die Rückkehr der Sonne, die bei ihrem Abschied den Pflanzen das Gebot auferlegt, Wache zu halten bis zu ihrer (seiner...die Sonne ist in diesem Märchen männlich) Rückkehr. Nur der Efeu, die Stechpalme, die Tanne und die Mistel haben ausgehalten und werden am Ende dafür belohnt.... Das Buch ist wunderschön illustriert. Definitiv eine klare Kaufempfehlung.

It's still a little old for my 17 month old but Winter Solstice is something I want to bring into our family celebration and I found this short book so informative. Really glad I purchased.

GREAT book for families to read during the Winter Solstice.