Waiting Through Winter

by Jason Farley, Jessica Linn Evans (Illustrator)

The animals are preparing to hibernate. The bear has been building up his fur, the squirrels have been gathering nuts in their home, and the birds are buckling down for a cold winter. And they are all willing to wait because they are all looking forward to the day when spring breaks. Jason Farley's poem, accompanied by the beautiful pen and watercolor illustrations of Jessica Linn Evans, show a bear, a family of squirrels, and birds that all trust that Spring will come after winter.

Genres: Poetry, Nature

26 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2015

Reviews

[Carol Bakker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, not often, a dedication will bring me to tears. "To my dad, who is hibernating" took on fresh meaning after I read through this book.

I've read this to my grands, focusing on the gorgeous illustrations. But alone, on a quiet summer afternoon, with occasional shouts from the nearby playground drifting through the open window, I read this book on winter. With a frisson of wonder, I realized how much deeper it was.

The poetry is elegant. Its structure is exquisite. Three stanzas per animal: bear, squirrels, and birds. Three lines per stanza with repetition built in: abc, bde, cfg. How did I not see this before?

I have a shelf on Goodreads called terminal_dx (terminal diagnosis). If (when?) I hear the words "you have ___ months," these are the books I want to read to remind me of what is true and precious and good.

The book is like a prelude to one of my favorite Easter songs from a cantata by J.S. Bach:

Awake, thou wintry earth,
Fling off, fling off thy sadness.
Ye vernal flowers, laugh forth,
laugh forth your ancient gladness.
A new and lovely tale
Throughout the land is sped,
It floats o'er hill and dale
To tell that death is dead.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Winter has always been my favorite season, but Jason Farley's tight, lyrical prose (think George Herbert for littles) and Jessica Evans' jolly illustrations make spring even lovelier in this fun story about woodland creatures preparing for the cold, dead months. Some dream, some bustle, some are the first to seek out the spring. We need more kids' books like this---books that show the yearly rhythm of death and resurrection so that kids take delight in recognizing the same pattern throughout their own lives. A rich, rich little book. Going on my Christmas list for the young nephews! They'll feast on it now and even more as they grow.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically Gerard Manley Hopkins with pictures. Really spirited illustrations. I think my favorite was of the squirrel getting snow on his head.

There isn't really a story, but I don't remember any plot to Goodnight Moon and this might just get your children to fall in love with alliteration early. A worthy aspiration.