Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year are visually depicted in turn, accompanying a stunning, read-aloud text that speaks of the traditions that link them all together. The warm yet accurate imagery is explained in simple secondary text on each spread, and further in the backmatter. Beloved author Jane Yolen and daughter, author Heidi Stemple, have crafted a loving and poignant story with true reverence for our shared traditions of celebrating light, love, food, and family. An empowering, informative, and inclusive holiday book for families of all traditions.
Heidi E.Y. Stemple is a second-generation writer. She spends as much time teaching and talking with kids as she does writing. She has published 28 books, mostly for children, and many of them co-written with her mother, Jane Yolen. Her newest solo book, Counting Birds (Quarto), made the NSTA Outstanding Science and the Best STEM lists, won the John Burroughs Riverby Award, and was named a Green Earth Book Award honoree. Heidi lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts, next door to her mother, Jane.
Jieting Chen is a New York-based illustrator and animator. With years of experience, she produced and directed several award-winning short animations. Her illustrations are strongly influenced by oriental paintings, in which the points of view are delicate and sensitive. When not illustrating, she enjoys watching films with her wife and cat, listening to raining sound tracks, or simply letting her mind go blank so she can see where inspiration organically strikes next.
⭐ "This sweeping embrace of winter and fall celebrations is a visually stunning addition to holiday book collections." --School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
"A tribute to seven luminous holidays: Diwali, winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year." --Publishers Weekly
"With its emphasis on inclusivity, this is an excellent choice for classrooms or libraries looking to discuss winter holidays. Luminous." --Kirkus