The Shortest Day

Since the 1970s, the Christmas Revels - a series of annual holiday stage performances that draw upon English theater traditions from the 16th century and before - has opened with the recitation of this beautiful poem from Susan Cooper. A celebration of the Winter Solstice, it evokes the darkness of this shortest day, and the ways in which people tried to keep light alive. Now the poem has been issued in picture-book format, with the artwork of Carson Ellis, and a new afterword from Cooper...

Somehow, although a lifelong admirer of Cooper's - her Dark Is Rising Sequence was one of the reading joys of my adolescence - I never knew about this poem. I suppose that is because I never attended the Revels - something I now hope to do! Whatever show more the case may be, I am so glad to have read it now, as its brief text is beautiful and immensely powerful, evoking a sense of the past, and of our connection to the many generations that came before us. I got chills when I read the lines "Through all the frosty ages you can hear them / Echoing, behind us - listen!" Just amazing! The accompanying artwork from Carson Ellis, who was awarded a Caldecott Honor for her Du Iz Tak, is just lovely as well. Highly recommended, to fans of Cooper and/or Ellis, and to anyone seeking picture-books about the Winter Solstice. show less

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 show more celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule! show less

The artwork in this book is probably my favorite of any children’s book, I particularly love the way the depict the sun as a slumbering person, and the way they use a their light source. This book does a beautiful job of showing the similarities that many winter celebrations have in common.

gorgeous art style, especially the wordless double pages in the beginning. very christmas-heavy, though mentions a couple of other primarily european/north american holidays that also occur near/on the solstice

Text of the poem here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/susan-cooper/the-shortest-day/992298237510202/

Great to see a picture-book edition. I've had mixed feelings about Ellis's work elsewhere so I don't know if I'll like the book myself, but I'm glad it's been published.
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Ok, finally read it. The pictures work. Somehow it's hard to read the poem at the pace required to view them, though. Maybe, with your younglings (or even yourself), you would like to go to the back of the book, read the poem out loud a couple of times to become familiar with it, and then enjoy the pictures. And don't miss the author's note!

Carson Ellis illustrates Susan Cooper's poem beautifully.
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Re-read December 2022 to several elementary classes. They didn't make much of the poem but they loved the illustrations and made good observations.

Mx liked and Ms indifferent. Nicely illustrated poem about the end of the year and a new year beginning.