Image
Age Range
3 - 11
Genre
Page Count
32
Publisher
Candlewick
Grade Level
K - 4th
ISBN
9780763686987
Themes

The Shortest Day

Written by Susan Cooper and Illustrated by Carson Ellis

So the shortest day came,
and the year died . . .

As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!

Age Range
3 - 11
Genre
Page Count
32
Publisher
Candlewick
Grade Level
K - 4th
ISBN
9780763686987
Themes