The Best Stories for Winter Solstice
Picture Books That Celebrate Yule – The Change From Dark to Light
Nov 8, 2009
In the northern hemisphere, December is a time when everything is very dark. The celebration of Yule often falls on or around December 21st. This celebration is also called Winter Solstice, and it is the time when the days begin to get a little longer and light comes back to northern places. Like many celebrations in December, Yule is a time to celebrate the return of the light to the world. These picture books will deepen children’s understanding of the winter solstice.
When the Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow
When the Wind Stops (Harper Collins, 1997) is an exploration of change. A small boy talks to his mother about the way that the day comes to an end, and together they explore the many changes that occur in the natural world. Darkness changes to light, the seasons pass, and the tide moves in and out. For families who are exploring natural cycles on Winter Solstice, this is an excellent book to begin that discussion.
Only The Cat Saw by Ashley Wolff
Only the Cat Saw (Walker and Company, 1996) is a lovely tale about the night. Although it is set in the summer or early fall, it’s a good introduction for a class or a family that is discussing what happens during dark times, and it’s an easy introduction to the darkness of winter and winter solstice.
Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here by Jean Craighead George
Oddly enough, Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here (Harper Collins, 1995) begins on the summer solstice. It’s a series of letters from a grandmother to her granddaughter, and they begin on the longest day of the year. After that, the days grow shorter throughout the summer, and the world finally descends into winter. This is a book that explores the ways that the light changes throughout the year in a tone that children can understand.
Tell Me a Season by Mary McKenna Siddals
Tell Me A Season (Sandpiper, 2001) is a very simple book is full of lovely illustrations. It traces a house and a garden as the seasons change. The book describes the colors of each season in simple language. Children can find the same characters on each page. The book ends in a black and white depiction of a winter’s night.
The Sun Egg by Elsa Maartman Beskow
In The Sun Egg (Floris Books, 1993), A little forest elf finds a mysterious orange egg in the woods. What could it be? It is an orange, but the little creature doesn’t realize this. She goes on a journey to discover the origins of the sun egg. This is a book that will spark discussion about the role of the sun during the winter season.
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
The Tomten (Putnam Juvenile, 1997) is a classic Swedish tale of a small gnome-like creature who visits the animals in the barnyard on a cold winter night. Although it is not specifically about the winter solstice, the cool-toned pictures convey a feeling of deep winter. The Tomten talks with the animals in the barnyard, reassuring them that spring is just around the corner.
Each of these books explores the winter solstice in a different way. Use one or more of them to explore the feeling of winter, the changes in the world throughout the year, and the natural cycles of the earth. They will inspire wonder and spark discussion about the Winter Solstice, the darkest night of the year.
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