Winter's Gift [Hardcover]

Jane Monroe Donovan (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Holdiay

Illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan

It may be Christmastime but on a small, forlorn farm the holiday season is best forgotten, along with painful memories of loved ones lost. Mother Nature has other plans, however, and a chance snowstorm brings together two unlikely hearts, one human and one beast, yet both yearning for comfort, companionship, and that most elusive gift of all, hope. This lustrous jewel of a story, quietly told and perfectly complemented by soft, evocative paintings, reminds even the most cynical of readers that the heart indeed can recover and go on.

Jane Monroe Donovan's parents encouraged her to follow her heart and it led to her love of sketching and painting. Her affection for animals is reflected in much of her subject matter. Jane makes her home in Pinckney, Michigan, with her husband Bruce and their two sons, Ryan and Joey. Other members of their family include their two dogs, Belle and Grizzly, a Siamese cat named Maylee, and their two horses, Ameera and Cherokee Rose.

In addition to Winter's Gift, Jane has also illustrated three other titles for Sleeping Bear Press: My Teacher Likes to Say; My Momma Likes to Say; and Sunny Numbers: A Florida Counting Book. (20041212)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An unlikely pair find themselves spending Christmas Eve together -- and sharing a miracle the next day.....Donovan's painted pictures of what must be an idyllic New England farm blanketed by the calm of a fresh snow are a compelling part of the story."
-- Daily Times Chronicle (December 2004) (Daily Times Chronicle (Woburn Ed.) 20041223)<br /><br />"The hushed storytelling is graceful, the wintry scenes exactly right."
-- Gainesville Sun (December 2004) (Gainesville Sun )<br /><br />"A good lap time read aloud. The author's paintings of north woods snow scenes are realistic enough to make you shiver."
--Las Vegas Optic (December 2004) (Las Vegas Optic )

About the Author

Jane Monroe Donovan’s parents encouraged her to follow her heart and it led to her love of sketching and painting. Her affection for animals is reflected in much of her subject matter. Jane makes her home in Pinckney, Michigan, with her husband Bruce and their two sons, Ryan and Joey. Other members of their family include their two dogs, Belle and Grizzly, a Siamese cat named Maylee, and their two horses, Ameera and Cherokee Rose. In addition to Winter’s Gift, Jane has also illustrated three other titles for Sleeping Bear Press: My Teacher Likes to Say; My Momma Likes to Say; and Sunny Numbers: A Florida Counting Book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1 edition (September 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158536231X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585362318
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Children's Books > History > Military & Wars
  • #47 in Books > Children's Books > History > United States > 1800s

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite Holiday Story for All, November 18, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter's Gift (Hardcover)

Christmastime may be designated as the happiest time of the year. Filled with singing, eating, visiting, giving and receiving presents, and so much more. But on a small farm, the holiday season is best forgotten, as it brings along nothing more than painful memories of lost loved ones. However, Mother Nature has very different plans, for a terrible snowstorm brings together two broken hearts, one of a man who lost his wife, and one of a horse, separated from her herd, and gives them what they both want most for the holiday, companionship.

When I first saw WINTER'S GIFT, I was quite sure whether it was a holiday story or not. But the illustration of the horse in the snowstorm on the cover, quickly made me realize that I wanted the book, even if it wasn't a holiday story. However, upon opening WINTER'S GIFT, I found that it was a holiday story, and a lovely one at that. The lovely prose, and gorgeous illustrations, both done by Jane Monroe Donovan, are exquisite, and will bring hope into the lives of everyone who reads this story during the holiday season. A must have!

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Christmas Story, June 14, 2005

By 

J T Cooper "book review editor" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter's Gift (Hardcover)

This is a heartwarming story of an elderly man and also of a mare lost in a winter snowstorm. For every previous Christmas the man and his wife had gone to the woods nearby and picked out the perfect Christmas tree. They would then take the tree back to their home and decorate it, but the crowning glory of each tree would be when she placed the star on it. He had lost his wife the previous spring and this was his first Christmas alone. He had not gone to pick out a tree because he had lost heart after his loss.
At the same time a mare had become separated from her herd of wild horses and was wandering in the storm trying to find shelter. She could hear wolves howling in the distance and she was frightened and alone. She came to the old man's home and he heard her outside and took her into his barn, fed her and dried her off. He drifted off to sleep in his barn that Christmas Eve, but when he awoke he found he had been given an unexpected gift. I won't spoil things by giving you the ending, but it made my wife Sharon and me a little teary eyed. This is an ideal Christmas present for anyone you know that cherishes the Christmas spirit as we do. Keep a copy for yourself, but be sure and buy enough to give to those you love.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Beautiful for kids and grownups., December 3, 2004

By 

Angela Tocco "Angela ' Wanna be book critic" (Windsor ,Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winter's Gift (Hardcover)

I read this story in a book store and cried a little. What a beautiful story for times such as these A simple reminder that even in the worst of times there is hope. Mother nature bringing two lonely souls together. The drawing are simply flawless. Of course I had to buy it. I plan to read it to my own children someday. Thank you Ms. Donovan for reminding us how important it is to always have hope no matter how hard things can get.