Winter Solstice Wish

On the shortest day of the year, people reach out for light--and one another--in this luminous, lyrical winter solstice story.

Today we stretch the daylight as much as we can, trying to make it last.

On the shortest day of the year, when daylight slips by like sand through one's fingers, people savor the light. As night falls, a community gathers on a beach and builds a bonfire of hope. Winter Solstice Wish is an ode to the winter solstice, human connectedness, and the hope of renewal.

Inspired by winter solstice bonfires built on a San Diego beach near the author's home, Winter Solstice Wish combines scientific concepts with the intangible longing for connection and togetherness that people all over the world reach for on the shortest day. Backmatter includes information about global winter solstice celebrations and a brief scientific explanation of what's happening on a solstice.

Kate Allen Fox is an award-winning author of inspiring picture books about science and nature. Her works include: Pando, A Living Wonder of Trees, A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse, Winter Solstice Wish, Scratching the Surface: Exploring Earth's Layers, and Summer Solstice Wish. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and McSweeney's. She lives in California with her husband and two sons.

Elisa Paganelli was born in Italy. After completing artistic studies, she made a career in advertising and has been the founder of a small award-winning design/trade business. She now lives and works in the UK as an illustrator and creative designer, accompanied by her beloved pets. Elisa loves quietness and feels truly at home in nature.