Happy Winter

I just adore this book! It's the most wonderful book for reading out loud. Oh, and my preschooler loves the book too! I found the book mentioned on some blog (I forget which one) and took it out from the library but it's definitely a book we need to own. The illustrations and prose leave you with such warm feeling of being connected to family, tradition, and nature. The book turns the routine of winter into a wonderful, joyful song from the perspective of children. I especially like that siblings are represented in the book because I have a preschooler and baby. I feel it gives the older one a glimpse of the future when she'll enjoy the winter with her little sister.

I have been reading this book to my children since my oldest (who's now 12 and still enjoys it!) was little! The use of words, the imagery created through the poems just keeps the kids attention through every time. We lived in the south for 15 years, and now finally live up north, with snow, so the kids can actually experience all the book talks about! Now I need to find the book so I can make Happy Winter Fudge Cake!!! A wonderful, wonderful book!

Happy Winter was also a favorite with my two daughters. Laurie Colwin, the wonderful food columnist and sadly departed novelist, mentions Happy Winter as the source for an excellent recipe for chocolate cake and indeed the recipe is included.We had originally read this book in paperback form until it was in pieces and, miraculously, I found a hard cover in pristine condition at a local used bookstore a couple of years ago.It's a perfect before-bed book - ends with a soothing lullaby-like trance of winter sky poem.I brought this book with me to a workshop given by Nancy Ekholm Burkert and most in the audience were not familiar with it but all showed keen interest after my introduction.

In about 1985, my two daughters, who uncannily resembled the two little girls in the book, received a copy of Karen Gundescheimer's Happy Winter as a Christmas gift. In verse form, it tells the story of a charming winter weekend day, from the time the children awake to find the world covered in snow, through breakfast, outdoor play, and indoor activities afterwards. We read it over and over so many times that everyone in our family could probably recite it from memory: "Happy Winter, rise and shine! I love the early morning time. My sister snuggles close to me..." The accompanying pictures are fabulous. Unfortunately, our copy became lost. I want to buy two new ones for my daughters, now 21 and 19, for Christmas. Why, oh why, is this book out of print? This generation's kids are being deprived of an outstanding experience.

This is an excellent book. The poem contains details of children's winter time activities. While Gundersheimer is more recognized as an illustrator she demonstrates her writing talent in this book.