Winter Holding Spring (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ronald Himler (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-- A gentle story of nature ' s rhythms. Her mother has died, but to 11-year-old Sarah, she is still everywhere--in twirly skirts, spaghetti with basil, a sweater with cows on it--and thinking about her still hurts. In the ensuing year, Sarah's grief mellows into a bittersweet acceptance as she and her father watch the promises of the seasons--the pumpkins of autumn heralding winter, crocuses announcing spring--and together they come to know that despite setbacks, even tragic ones, life does and will continue. The father-daughter relationship is a tender, well-drawn one with plenty of details, thoughtful dialogue, and glimpses of the father's different, but also real sense of loss. There is a discrepancy in Sarah's depiction, however, both in text and illustration. Her words and actions seem immature for her age, and she is shown in Himler ' s pencil drawings as a much younger child . This presents a problem in determining the story's audience. The real shame, though, is the presentation of this delicate, almost meditative story in such an uninviting fashion. Instead of a graceful picture-book format, the text is forced onto small pages with too-close margins and gutters. Chapter follows chapter undistinguished from one another, with the illustrations tightly sandwiched where a space opens up. This treatment does justice to neither text nor illustration and reduces the effectiveness of both. This is a loving gift of a story presented in a sadly unappealing package.
- Joanne Aswell, Long Valley Middle School, NJ
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Written with a sure and gentle touch, this is a moving exploration of the inevitability of death, and of the possibilities of growth and happiness for those who survive the death of a loved one.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (March 31, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027331229
• ISBN-13: 978-0027331226
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,656,458 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever, April 2, 2004

By A Customer

I am a grief counselor who has worked with children for twenty years. This remains my favorite book for what in instills as hope without being sachrine or preachy. As Dad and daughter survive the death of Mom, they discover the promise of each new season in the current one through the first year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tender, poignant choice for a child who has suffered a loss, May 26, 2003

By A Customer

A simple and beautifully told story, in very short chapters, this book follows a bereaved father and his young daughter through one cycle of the seasons. As they come to terms, each in their own way, with the loss of their wife / mother, they also grow closer and come to a slow, gentle understanding about beginnings and endings and how life works. Moving, tender, and gentle, the dialogue between father and daughter and their small adventures as the year turns are true to life. One of the best books on this difficult topic for readers in second to fifth grade, and deeply helpful to children who have lost a parent or face the serious illness of one.