Customer Reviews

Grandmother Winter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a person who prefers to celebrate solstice and the wheel of the year instead of Christmas commercialism, this book charmed me immediately. It helps us to remember that winter is a time of rest and introspection and that the wheel of the year turns and turns, time is circular, not linear. Love it! The nature references help us to remember that we are not alone on this planet and that there were beings living with the 4 seasons long before indoor heat and thermal underwear.

I'm surprised that there are no reviews for this lovely book although it has been included in many listmania lists about winter. Yesterday we took a Nature walk and my daughter found a white feather lying on the ground. When we got home and put it on our Nature table, I remembered that I had this book and we read it together; it turned out to be the perfect complement. Grandmother Winter collects feathers all throughout the Spring and Summer from her flock of geese. In Autumn, she stitches together a quilt and stuffs it with the soft feathers. The arrival of the first snow means that Grandmother Winter has shaken her quilt over the world from high in the sky and then she goes to sleep and rests through the Winter. Many other animals also take shelter for the Winter -- this book talks about frogs, fish, bears, earthworms, butterflies and many other animals (including, of course, Grandmother Winter's geese) and how they make it through the Winter. This book is a perfect blend of storytelling and natural history and I would recommend it to any family watching the seasons change.

This book was a gift to my son and a very special surprise. The story line is very unique and the illustrations are truly beautiful -- they are unlike any I have seen in other children's books. I plan on purchasing this book for all of my nieces and nephews. This book would be a very special addition to any child's library.

Every picture in this book is a delight, speading across each pair of facing pages, and the story is written in a quiet, loving tone that instantly makes the reader at home. In this day of instant everything, I particularly appreciate the message that great things take time. Wise Grandmother uses the entirety of the 3 other seasons to prepare for her winter. I really enjoyed the comfortable and informative way the story invites the reader to experience how many living things react to winter. Birds fluff, worms tunnel, adults prepare and children wonder.

I agree with all of the other reviews about this book, I just don't want potential buyers to feel that one has to subscribe to a purely nature based philospohy or belief system to enjoy this book. It is charming regardless of which (if any) winter holidays your family celebrates.

I was delighted to find this picure book rendition of the German legend of Mother Holle. It's about time we re-introduce a female role model into out winter mythology, instead of another Santa story. Families who follow earth-centered traditions will cherish this book. I love the detailed old-fashioned illustrations- the kind that looks like block printing, with thick black outlines.

Grandmother Winter - prepares for winter by caring for her geese and sewing her quilt of feathers. People prepare for winter by pilling their woodpiles high and searching out their warm clothing and skis. The animals also prepare. This book shows Grandmother Winter through the seasons and how her actions bring winter to us all. While listening to the story my 5-year-old said, "She is like Mother Holle." (from another story). Though I didn't see the similarities the back flap mentions that Phyllis Root was inspired by Mother Holle (A character in German Fairy Tales) when writing this tale. My daughters enjoy this story. It is a wonderful book.

The story is one of Grandmother who brings on winter with her quilt, and all the typical winter things unfold, bear goes to cave, earthworms borrow down, etc. Takes you thru 4 seasons but definitely a winter book. Illustrations are wonderful!!! Story is gentle and sweet. My 3 yr old daughter loves it. I went on to buy Hidden Folk (also illustrated by Krommes), but I think its more appropriate for older kids than Grandmother winter, which is great for my 3 yr old.