Inthisseasonaltreasure,NewberyMedalistSusanCooper’sbelovedpoemheraldsthewintersolstice,illuminatedbyCaldecottHonoreeCarsonEllis’sstrikinglyresonantillustrations.Sotheshortestdaycame,andtheyeardied...Asthesunsetontheshortestdayoftheyear,earlypeoplewouldgathertoprepareforthelongnightahead.Theybuiltfiresandlitcandles.Theyplayedmusic,bringingtheirownlighttothedarkness,whilewonderingifthesunwouldeverriseagain.Writtenforatheatricalproductionthathasbecomearitualinitself,SusanCooper’spoem“TheShortestDay“capturesthemagicbehindthereturningofthelight,theyearningfortraditionsthatconnectuswithgenerationsthathavegonebefore--andthehopeforpeacethatwecarryintothefuture.RichlyillustratedbyCarsonElliswithauniversalitythatspansthecenturies,thisbeautifulbookevokesthejoyandcommunityfoundintheongoingmysteryoflifewhenwecelebratelight,thankfulness,andfestivityatatimeofrebirth.WelcomeYule!
