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Winter's Tale
Winter's Tale is an illustrated book about a child called Winter, who has never had a proper home. A child who is looking for parents and a family, and a sense of belonging. A child who sees magic in graffiti and a blue hare in the moon. Who meets a girl with a skateboard and learns to fly; who finds a home, with the most curious of families. Winter's Tale is a story about finding your true self and your true home; about family and belonging; about art, magic and freedom.
74 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2019
11 people want to read
About the author
Nike Sulway
13 books78 followersHi! I am an Australian writer who enjoys reading as much as (perhaps even more than) writing.
In 2000, I won the Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Best Emerging Queensland Author for my novel The Bone Flute (under the author name N A Bourke) which was released by UQP in 2001 and subsequently shortlisted in the Commonwealth Writers Awards. My children’s picture book, What the Sky Knows (Illustrated by Stella Danalis), followed in May 2005 and was shortlisted for two separate categories in the 2006 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards. A third novel, The True Green of Hope was released in August 2005. My most recently published adult novel is Dying in the First Person, released in May, 2016, through Transit Lounge, and my most recent children's book is Winter's Tale, illustrated by Shauna O'Meara and published by Titania in 2019.
Rupetta published by Tartarus Press in 2013, won the James Tiptree, Jr Award for a work that explores and expands our understanding of gender.
I have a PhD in creative writing from Griffith University, and have taught creative writing in the university sector for more than ten years, with regular dips into other forms of work and life (cooking, mostly).
In 2000, I won the Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Best Emerging Queensland Author for my novel The Bone Flute (under the author name N A Bourke) which was released by UQP in 2001 and subsequently shortlisted in the Commonwealth Writers Awards. My children’s picture book, What the Sky Knows (Illustrated by Stella Danalis), followed in May 2005 and was shortlisted for two separate categories in the 2006 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards. A third novel, The True Green of Hope was released in August 2005. My most recently published adult novel is Dying in the First Person, released in May, 2016, through Transit Lounge, and my most recent children's book is Winter's Tale, illustrated by Shauna O'Meara and published by Titania in 2019.
Rupetta published by Tartarus Press in 2013, won the James Tiptree, Jr Award for a work that explores and expands our understanding of gender.
I have a PhD in creative writing from Griffith University, and have taught creative writing in the university sector for more than ten years, with regular dips into other forms of work and life (cooking, mostly).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 8, 2019
This is WONDERFUL. If you have a child in your life, they need this book. Or maybe you need this book. It is the magical story of a child who feels displaced and on the outer, searching for home and belonging. Why is it that he is the only one who can see the crowned blue hare?
Winter is nonbinary and the book also features a same-sex couple.
Winter is nonbinary and the book also features a same-sex couple.
October 8, 2019
Winter’s Tale by Nike Sulway and illustrated by Shauna O’Meara is an illustrated children’s book; a short novel with pictures, rather than a full-blown picture book. This book drew my attention for two reasons: the colourful illustrations and the Tiptree Award-winning writer of the story.
Winter’s Tale is the story of Winter, a founding who has passed through a few families by the time the story starts. Unsurprisingly, Winter doesn’t feel like they belong, especially when they have to move families again. Winter is also agender (my impression from the book was that they were intersex, though that is less clear), but their sense of not belonging stems more from the series of foster families than from this fact.
The whole story has a magical vibe to it and this is especially emphasised when Winter meets their fourth family and learns about the changing landscape their house is found in. Throughout the story Winter keeps catching glimpses of a blue hare, which apparently no one else can see, and this is linked with the magical surroundings and Winter’s quest/desire to find somewhere to belong.
Overall, this was a fun read with very nice illustrations throughout. I think it would appeal to the kind of children that enjoy magical (or partly magical) stories and would work well both read to or by a child. I’m not sure I have any appropriately aged children in my life (my niece is probably a little too old by now), but if I did I would certainly buy this for them.
4 / 5 stars
Winter’s Tale is the story of Winter, a founding who has passed through a few families by the time the story starts. Unsurprisingly, Winter doesn’t feel like they belong, especially when they have to move families again. Winter is also agender (my impression from the book was that they were intersex, though that is less clear), but their sense of not belonging stems more from the series of foster families than from this fact.
The whole story has a magical vibe to it and this is especially emphasised when Winter meets their fourth family and learns about the changing landscape their house is found in. Throughout the story Winter keeps catching glimpses of a blue hare, which apparently no one else can see, and this is linked with the magical surroundings and Winter’s quest/desire to find somewhere to belong.
Overall, this was a fun read with very nice illustrations throughout. I think it would appeal to the kind of children that enjoy magical (or partly magical) stories and would work well both read to or by a child. I’m not sure I have any appropriately aged children in my life (my niece is probably a little too old by now), but if I did I would certainly buy this for them.
4 / 5 stars
November 29, 2019
Of course I love this book; I wrote it! It's filled with characters and landscapes I adore, beautifully and wildly illustrated by Shauna O'Meara. And it's available in either a nifty hardback, or a roll-it-up and stick in your pocket softcover.
There's a child who needs a family, and a city that won't stay still. There are streets full of mysteries, friendship, skateboarding, and a mysterious blue hare.
There's a child who needs a family, and a city that won't stay still. There are streets full of mysteries, friendship, skateboarding, and a mysterious blue hare.
November 17, 2019
A strange, sweet, very kind story of a born-blue foundling named Winter, and their finally finding a home.
December 16, 2019
Winter's Tale is about acceptance, family, and magic. A lovely, whimsical book for young readers. Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous.
July 30, 2020
read as a judge for Aurealis awards for 2019
This one really didn't work for me -- my working notes on it are "pretty, interesting, but soulless."
This one really didn't work for me -- my working notes on it are "pretty, interesting, but soulless."
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews