The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice [Hardcover]

Wendy Pfeffer (Author), Jesse Reisch (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

The beginning of winter is marked by the solstice, the shortest day of the year. Long ago, people grew afraid when each day had fewer hours of sunshine than the day before. Over time, they realized that one day each year the sun started moving toward them again. In lyrical prose and cozy illustrations, this book explains what the winter solstice is and how it has been observed by various cultures throughout history. Many contemporary holiday traditions were borrowed from ancient solstice celebrations. Simple science activities, ideas for celebrating the day in school and at home, and a further-reading list are included.

Illustrated by Jesse Reisch.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wendy Pfeffer is the author of many science-oriented children's books, including From Tadpole to Frog and A Log's Life, which won the Giverny Award for Best Children's Science Picture Book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; First edition. edition (September 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469680
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469681
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wendy Pfeffer has written several other books for children,including From Tadpole to Frog and What's It Like to Be a Fish? both illustrated by Holly Keller. Ms. Pfeffer lives in Pennington, NJ. Holly Keller has illustrated Let's Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans and You're Aboard Spaceship Earth by Patricia Lauber, as well as her own books starring Horace and Geraldine. Ms. Keller lives in West Redding, CT.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and informative, March 7, 2004

By 

ardnam "ardnam" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (Hardcover)

Good piece of children's nonfiction. Provides a brief history of beliefs and enlightenment regarding the winter solstice. Beautifully illustrated throughout. I bought this book to use in my classroom. It has a variety of activities and experiments in the back of the book that reach out to children of all ages. A couple are a little too involved for my second graders but would be great for older children. We enjoyed doing the shadow activity and making the two bird feeders which we hung in the courtyard outside our classroom. I will now look for books on the summer solstice.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous Solstice book for both religious and secular needs, October 26, 2005

By 

alexxcz "alexxcz" (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful info-packed gem about the Winter Solstice. The technical, as well as the historical and spiritual meaning of the event are nicely laid-out. I would recommend this book for Pagan families, secular school teachers and anyone wanting to teach their kids about Solstice. I particularly liked the end section that lists science experiments, as well as celebration ideas for kids to enjoy.

My one critique is that while it is a good book for school-aged kids to read, the text doesn't flow very well for a "read-aloud" book for younger kids.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good explanation of Xmas for non-denominational, December 3, 2004

By 

Jdunleavey (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (Hardcover)

I got this book to provide an explanation of Christmas to my toddler which was not religious-based. This book will do that, I think. We'll start reading it now although I don't expect it to sink in until she is a little older. I also got "The Winter Solstice" by Ellen Jackson. Jackson's book is a little darker and scarier, with more of an emphasis on the winter solstice's history of driving away "evil spirits" and even mentions human sacrifice. I'll save that one until my child is much older.