This book, The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer, is an informational text about the winter solstice. The book defines what the solstice is and explains the science behind it. Then, the book explains how different cultures throughout time have approached the solstice, investigated the meaning behind it, and celebrated it.
I really like this book because it integrates history and science so well.
I would use this book in winter to teach my students about the winter solstice and integrate how other cultures celebrated this day in the past and how they celebrate it now. ( )

Summary: The book discusses what the solstice means from different cultures and ancient beliefs.

Personal Reaction: This was a great book it taught you some of how the solar system works and why the solstices change.

Classroom Ideas:
1.Coloring page of the sun and moon
2.Informational sheet of all the different cultures.
3.Making a real life solstice.

Summary:
This book is all about the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice. It includes a history of how the Winter Solstice was once feared but later celebrated and how people kept track of the shortest day of the year.

Personal Reaction:
The Winter Solstice isn't as big a deal as it used to be, at least not in the United States. I enjoyed learning about the history surrounding how people in the past celebrated the solstice. The illustrations in this book are also beautiful. The colors represent the vivid colors you would find in the sunrise and sunset.

Extension Ideas:
1.) This book would be a great way to introduce not only the Winter Solstice but other solar holiday like the Summer Solstice.
2.) This would also be a good gateway into learning about other holidays in other countries as well as how they compare to ours. ( )

This book gives young readers a background into the meaning of winter solstice. It gives basic scientific facts and a history of how earlier cultures celebrate the season. ( )

4 1/2 - not the best book for small kids on this topic but it fit the bill for a brief discussion of the shortest day this Dec 21st. Next year I'll have to find something that does the job a bit better. ( )