Winter Story: Brambly Hedge

Brambly Hedge #4

by Jill Barklem

Step into the exquisite miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge in this beautiful new edition of the classic picture book.

It was the middle of winter and very, very cold. The mice of Brambly Hedge forecasted snow.

And they were right. In the morning they awoke to find their doors and windows hidden behind deep drifts. There hadn't been snow like this for years. "There's enough for a Snow Ball!" cried the mice with glee, and set to work in the time-honoured way to make an Ice Hall for the festivities. The little mice watched wide-eyed as all the preparations were made.

Then at last everything was ready, and the Ball could begin…

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Christmas, Animals, Fantasy, Classics

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Jill Barklem (1951-November 15, 2017) was a British writer and illustrator of children's books. Her most famous work is the Brambly Hedge series.

After an accident when she was thirteen, Jill was unable to take part in PE or games at school and instead developed her talent for drawing and art. On leaving school, she studied illustration at St Martin's in London. She became a full-time illustrator. She spent five years on research before she started to write her first stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Reviews

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely and utterly charming in every way. I stumbled across this title while searching for another book… it seemed a classic children’s tale filled with a variety of woodland creatures. It was and now I’m in love. Definitely treating myself to the entire series of books… let’s call it grandchild literary research!

Perfect for grandchildren and grandparents alike! Especially this one! 🐭🐿️🦔🌸⭐️🎁💖

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the residents of Brambly Hedge - a community of woodland mice all living together in a small settlement on the other side of the stream, across the field... amongst the tangled roots and stems" - wake up one winter morning and find their world has been blanketed in fresh snow, they respond in their usual fashion: by working, and then celebrating as a group. Digging tunnels to connect all the residences of the hedge with one another, and with the Store Stump, they decide to honor the traditions of the ancestors, and hold a Snow Ball...

The last of Jill Barklem's initial four Brambly Hedge books, which were all published in 1980, and chronicle this cozy murine society through the seasons of the year - there have also been subsequent non-seasonal titles - Winter Story is every bit as delightful as its predecessors! The story itself is engaging - a ball inside a hollowed out snow drift! - and the illustrations adorable! There aren't as many cross-section views in this one, as in some of the others, but the image of the icicle-decorated ballroom more than makes up for it! Recommended, together with its companions - Spring Story , Summer Story and Autumn Story - to young readers who enjoy animal fantasy.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

❄️ Sweet story to read on a snowy day. The mice of Brambly Hedge sure know how to find joy in the cold winters days. ❄️

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Brambly Hedge books are little masterpieces of illustration. My children loved them all through childhood, and I am now buying them for the next generation, they are timeless. This is a particular favourite, the wintry illustrations of the Snow Ball and the amazingly detailed pictures of the store, and the cosy kitchen; beautifully done. A book for parents as well as children!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just loving spending time in Brambly Hedge! This was another cozy entry in the series.

[Shala Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the story, think Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit stories with mice and without the sometimes surprising lapses into violence that forcibly remind you that Potter wrote in a different cultural context. In Potter's world, Mr. MacGregor has a distressing habit of stalking through the pages taking potshots at the cast with his shotgun. That sort of thing doesn't happen in the Brambly Hedge.

So a charming story, but it was the illustrations with their incredibly rich detail that won my heart. Small wonder each drawing took Jill Barklem three months to complete. (Each book in the series is the product of two years' effort.)

My favorites are the ones that dissect the trees where the mice make their homes. I could spend hours staring at all the little rooms the mice have carved out of the tree, complete with tiny furnishings, winding staircases, and halls.

(For a longer review of this series, visit my blog Caterpickles.com or see my review of the Complete Brambly Hedge here on Goodreads.)

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore the Brambly Hedge books and Winter Story is my favourite! First time I've read this for many years, love the wonderful illustrations and the magical story. Will be catching up with the others very soon!

[Giulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fave since 1995.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming, and an absolute delight to read, even as a grown woman.

[Rachel (Into a Story) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just found these books in a closet and re-read them. Oh childhood nostalgia! We had the teacups to go along with the books. 😊 The winter story is my favorite.

[Caleb Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

C3: I just liked it.
Me: What was your favorite part?
C3: I liked the wedding part.
Me: There wasn't a wedding. It was a Snow Ball.
C3: Yes, the ball part. I liked the dancing. Let's pretend the big green ball is a snow ball and we need to run into our tent to be warm.
V0: Wahh
C3: But first I need to check on new baby.

Me: For what it's worth, this has been my favorite so far. The art of the schematics of the different mouse houses are my favorite part. Some are very detailed and we look at them for a while.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Оскільки мій син поки сповна не може оцінити історії, від свого імені скажу, що я залишилася в захваті від знаймовства з Ожиновим Живоплотом і з нетерпінням чекаю весни і нової історії

[Samantha Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

January 2023 Re-read
Just as lovely as ever! The illustrations in this are just beautiful. I would love to learn how to paint like that! Also, the story reminds me of something that Hobbits would read their children. Or something that could exist in the universe of Redwall (even though I haven't even finished the first book, they just seem to fit together!).

First Read -- Jan 2021
It was a very cold, dreary day today so I decided it would be the perfect time to pick this up. It was lovely! The story was charming and the illustrations were beautiful, and for the 15 minutes that I spent reading this aloud to myself, I was truly transported to this heartwarming, whimsical world. I can’t wait to read the other books in this collection come their seasons!

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved listening to this short tale on a walk on Christmas Eve. It was all I love about Jill Barklem's little stories - cosy, funny and put me in a really festive mood. It's also my first time listening to these on audio, and I highly recommend them, if you have a way to listen to them!

[Joy O’Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely picture book about the mice of Brambly Hedge when the snow falls.

[Peaches ✩˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

these are so freakin adorable

[Liberi Leggendo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siamo nella siepe di Boscodirovo, l'inverno comincia, il vento gelido soffia da Est. Dalle finestre le luci accese risplendono, nell'Emporio Tronchetti delle luci più piccole spariscono nei boschi, sono i topolini che hanno sentito la neve vicina e si apprestano a mettersi vicino al fuoco a mangiare una zuppa calda.

La neve porta con se meraviglia e stupore, il signore Pomelli si chiude in casa a pregustare i dolci preparati dalla moglie, nell'altra casetta i figli dei signori Dal Pruno corrono a vedere la neve. Già i piccoli pensano all'indomani, a quando andranno fuori a giocare..

Uno splendido paesaggio bianco si prospetta ai loro occhi il mattino seguente, tutto è coperto di neve, i prati, i sentieri, le piante. Tutti gli abitanti del bosco, entusiasti, decidono di organizzare una festa "Il ballo della neve".

"Quando la neve cade lenta lenta
a poco a poco tutto si addormenta,
quando si gela all'usignolo il canto
e stende l'inverno il suo freddo manto,
al Ballo della Neve dalla sera al mattino
danza e si diverte l'allegro topolino. 

Tutti sono in fermento, chi a scavare gallerie nella neve, chi a cucinare tante prelibatezze. Costruiscono un vero e proprio palazzo del ghiaccio, con una bellissima pista da ballo. Gli abitanti di Boscodirovo si presentano al ballo con i loro abiti migliori, ballano tutta la notte e, quando vanno a dormire le neve continua a cadere.

Una storia dolcissima, da regalare ai più piccini e da leggere in una sera d'inverno quando, magari, fuori scendono i fiocchi di neve.

[genevieve elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very spontaneous but very fun read! i was scrolling on libby and saw this cutie little 15-minute audiobook and was like “why not?” turns out it was the 4th book in a children’s series about mice and their other animal friends… which was adorable :( the winter vibes were so cozy and definitely gave me narnia vibes!! such a sweet book.

do i have kids? no. did i love it? yes. will i be reading it to my future children? absolutely <3

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of four books covering the seasons for a little family of mice. The illustrations are beautiful and the books are smaller in size which just makes them all the more fun.

[Kelly Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous little heart warming winters tale.. so nostalgic for me as I used to read the bramble hedge books as a kid.
Beautiful illustrations add so much magic and warmth, with so much atmosphere to the story. Definitely a must read for every Christmas season for me. Great little books.

[Dafne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4'5/5

Una aventura en miniatura con unas ilustraciones preciosas que evocan la calma y la inocencia.

[Cécile · Rating 5 out of 5]

ik wil ook naar de sneeuw ball en dansen onder de sneeuw

[Jasmin Pachernegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and cozy 😊❤

[wow_42]

бо ці миші занадто кьют!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series! The mice of Brambly Hedge are so dear, always up for a community celebration. The way they prepared for, and then enjoyed, the Snow Ball was just lovely!
3.5 stars

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invernale. Spettacolare. Meraviglioso.

[Chrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy and delightful.

[The Half-blood Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely.

Everything is so quaint, but there isn't a lot of characterization and the mice all pretty much look the same.

[Evelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 thoughtfulness and world building and whimsy and design and story and setting and character and adventure and illustrations unmatched 🐁

[moonyhoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

pequeños ratones cuquis os quiero