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Product Description
Celebrate the turning of the seasons with The Shortest Day, Susan Cooper’s beloved poem brought to life through Carson Ellis’s beautiful illustrations. This children’s winter solstice picture book explores the longest night of the year, the return of light, and traditions that have connected people across generations.
From fires and candles to music and gathering together, the story travels through centuries of winter celebrations and captures the anticipation of welcoming the light back after the darkest days of the year. It’s a meaningful seasonal read for families who enjoy marking nature’s rhythms and creating traditions of their own.
Why Parents Love It
- Celebrates the winter solstice: Introduces children to the shortest day of the year through poetic storytelling and memorable illustrations.
- Connects nature and tradition: Explores how people across generations have marked the changing season with light, music, and gathering together.
- Beautiful seasonal read-aloud: A thoughtful choice for winter evenings, family traditions, and solstice celebrations.
- Created by acclaimed artists: Written by Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis.
Built for Real Outdoor Childhoods
Winter gives families a wonderful opportunity to notice the natural world in a different way—the earlier sunsets, longer nights, crisp air, bare trees, and gradual return of daylight. The Shortest Day gives those seasonal changes a story, helping make the winter solstice something children can notice and celebrate.
Pair it with an evening walk, a backyard fire, candlelight, stargazing, or simply watching the winter sun disappear together. It’s a beautiful reminder that outdoor childhood isn't only about warm, sunny days—there is wonder to discover in every season.
Things to Know
- Recommended age range: 4–8 years
- Length: 32 pages
- Written by: Susan Cooper
- Illustrated by: Carson Ellis
- Theme: Winter solstice, seasons, light, tradition, and community
Product Details
- Title: The Shortest Day
- Author: Susan Cooper
- Illustrator: Carson Ellis
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- ISBN: 9780763686987
- Page count: 32 pages
- Age range: 4–8 years
- Publication date: October 22, 2019
Why ODSS Recommends It
We love The Shortest Day because it turns one of winter’s quietest moments into something meaningful for the whole family. Susan Cooper’s poetic words and Carson Ellis’s beautiful illustrations celebrate the winter solstice, the return of light, and the traditions that have brought people together for generations.
It’s the kind of book that invites families to notice the season a little more closely—an early sunset, a glowing candle, a cold evening walk, or the gradual return of longer days. A beautiful choice for winter reading, seasonal traditions, and helping children discover the wonder found in nature’s rhythms.
Pairs well with
FOUNDED BY WOMEN. BUILT FOR ADVENTURE.
ODSS was started by mothers who saw firsthand how time outside builds resilient, confident kids. What began as helping outdoor schools equip students for all-weather learning grew into a bigger mission: Help families raise resilient, confident kids by making it easier for children to stay outside longer.
Testimonials
For us, the right gear from ODSS supports what we believe most about childhood. When children are able to be outside every day, in all seasons, they become tenacious, confident, and develop an authentic relationship with the land.
— RAIN OR SHINE SCHOOL
Working with Outdoor School Shop has transformed our outdoor school community. Parents love knowing their children are consistently and reliably equipped—and that nothing is forgotten or comes home covered in mud.
— RANDOLPH SCHOOL
Our students get outside in all temperatures and having the right gear makes a world of difference. @outdoorschoolshop has gear appropriate for all seasons, has a directory to search for nature schools, and layering guides to help families know how to dress children for the weather
— HEMLOCK HILL
At The Thistle and Root, I always recommend ODSS gear for anyone who believes that children grow best through nature—so dress for it.
— THISTLE & ROOT
Ordering bulk with Outdoor School Shop was just as easy and seamless as I had hoped! As we open up a new program, preparing our first group of kiddos for any weather was at the top of our priority list, and ODSS came through with insight, expertise, and the coolest, most dependable gear around! Thank you ODSS!
— SIDNEY RIDGE