How Robin Saved Spring

by Debbie Ouellet, Nicoletta Ceccoli (Illustrator)

If Lady Winter has her way, the world will stay covered in blankets of snowy white and icy blue. Sister Spring will slumber forever and the winter will never end. Can Lady Winter really keep spring from coming or is there something the animals might do to help? Led by harbinger Robin, the animals are determined to wake Sister Spring, but what price will they each have to pay? Through beautiful words and pictures, this enchanting tale about the battle of the seasons highlights one special bird who saves much more than just the day.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Animals, Folk Tales, Birds, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2009

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! It was so good. It was a myth in that it tells you all the reasons a robin has the features it does and other animals too. There are 2 sisters: Winter and Spring. Winter doesn't want to go back to sleep, so she enchants Spring to stay asleep and not wake up. Robin sees this and goes about trying to wake up Spring.

The art here is lovely and warm. The kids enjoyed it, although it was a bit long. This was a hit in our house.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely tale illustrated by Nicola Ceccoli that tells of how Winter never wanted her reign to end and thus ensorcelled her little sister Spring to sleep. Various animals and flora attempt to waken Spring, but Winter catches them all. She makes the maple weep sugary tears for trying to wake Spring and gives the skunk a white stripe so it can no longer sneak about. So on and so forth.

Now only the small Robin remains. It flies all the way to the sun to get some warm sunshine to awake Spring. In the process, the robin's breast is burnt a fiery red. Robin is successful, but ever after the bird makes sure to flee Winter's wrath, returning only when Spring has again awoken...

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and charming book that gives readers not only a chance to enjoy a good read about the change of seasons but also one that searches possible origin stories of various creatures and plants within the world that we live in while indirectly focusing on the European Robin.

The reading is intense and a bit farfetched, especially when Lady Winter is able to guess what is going to happen then counters back but at the same time it does allow the reader to see that even though Winter is evil there is also some good that comes out of her actions. And that even though her motives are bad there is still love between the sisters while it doesn't matter your size nor what you think you lack there will always be some kind of good that you can do or at least attempt to.

I love the illustrations of the book for with the exception of the butterfly and ladybug whose faces are a bit on the weirdish side the characters are adorably cute. At the point of reading this book I just wanted to snuggle with the skunk even after his encounter for who can turn down the cuteness factor that he has in the book? And the beautiful bright details and colorful contrast will help to set the background for the telling of this story.

Although it would have been fun and interesting to see if there were any outside sources for the origin tellings of the characters within the pages it is a good read for the Solstice. And for those who enjoy the type of telling it would be a good book for younger readers, especially when going over the change of seasons while possibly helping them to see how others view the change of seasons as well.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The snow is beautiful, just gorgeous, but Lady Winter is so evil and sadistic, so much so that I was rather horrified and had a difficult time enjoying this story. I suspect most readers wouldn’t be fazed in the slightest and wouldn’t agree with me. I have to say that in this book winter was more beautiful than spring so I had mixed feelings about robin’s success. I found the illustrations more appealing than the story, although both have a certain charm, I suppose.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This interesting story with an old theme is, in addition, a pourquoi tale about how certain creatures--notably, the robin, but also the ladybug, the bear, the caterpillar, and the skunk--came to look or act the way they do. While Sister Spring is sleeping, Lady Winter tries everything she can think of to keep her asleep and thereby continue with winter. Each of the animals tries to stop her, until robin finally succeeds. Nicoletta Ceccoli's colorful, soft illustrations are perfect for the quiet mood of the story. This book was a 2010 honor book for the Horace Mann Upstanders Children's Literature Award. A very nice story time choice, especially for spring.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little too much for my almost 6-year olds. The story involves two sisters, Lady Winter and Sister Spring. Lady Winter does not want winter to end so she must keep her sister asleep. The forest animals are ready for Spring and make a multitude of attempts to wake Sister Spring. Each time, they are met by Lady Winter and one by one, they are put into a deep sleep. Ultimately, the robin prevails, but not without consequence. I think the message was to explain why birds fly south for the winter(?), but I was interrupted almost every page by my kids' concerns for the sleeping animals.

Overall, the illustrations are enchanting and the story puts an interesting spin on Spring.

[T Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the amount of writing in this book I almost put it back on the shelf. Would a 4 year old sit through it? But she thought the main characters looked like Elsa and Anna from Frozen and really wanted to bring it home from the library so we did.

It held the attention of both the 4 and 6 year old. At the end the 4 year old wanted to start it all over again. The 6 year old (and I) both loved how it worked in stories about how animals got their characteristics (skunk's stripe, bear's hibernating skills etc).

Beautiful illustrations and well written for reading aloud.

[Jess Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Princess Winter decides to keep it her season all year long, little robin decides to do something about it, challenging her by sending in different animals and nature creatures. All the while, each of Princess Winter's responses (including, for example, touching a skunk's back and leaving the white stripe) mark each creature forever. I love a good pourquoi story, and this has great appeal, read-aloud-ability, and would even make a good storytelling candidate.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. The story is almost folkloric with the personification of Lady Winter (who might initially appeal to some children as Elsa-like, though this one is more of a meanie) and her sister spring, with some just-so-stories-esque elements wrapped up in it (why the skunk has a white stripe, how the robin got his red breast). Definitely too long for storytime, but a fun story for other reading.

[Aberdeen Children's · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is mythlike and has all the makings of a fairytale about the seasons of winter and spring using the characters of Lady Winter and Sister Spring. Many of the "spring" animals, especially robin play a part in the telling of this tale. Mother Sun is another key character. The pastel illustrations are truly beautiful.

[MissInformation · Rating 2 out of 5]

Likeable but too simply written. Evil sister Winter wants to keep her sister Spring asleep so it can be always cold and white. The animals atke truns at trying to wake her, but only robin succeeds: by bargaining with the sun and exchanging his voice for warm light.
Ceccoli illustrations add sophistication that misleads about the quality of the story.

[Laura Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

With whimsical art and simple language, this fairy tale-esque book tells the story of the seasons.
When Lady Winter puts a blanket over Sister Spring to make her sleep forever (thus allowing it to always be winter), various animals try to help her wake up again.
If the story doesn't enchant you,the illustrations will.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairy tale of sorts, in which Lady Winter tries to stop spring from coming by knitting a blanket of sleep for Sister Spring. Various animals attempt to foil her plans (resulting in their getting various characteristics like the skunk's white stripe or the bear's winter hibernation) until finally Robin is successful. Illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and bring the story to life.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tale of why some of the animals (like the robin)are the way they are. Winter doesn't want to go to sleep while her sister spring awakens. It is up to the animals to save springtime! Beautiful illustrations and all of my kids loved it.

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter doesn't want her sister Spring to wake up so she knits her a blanket that will keep her sleeping and stops different animals and a tree from waking her up. Can anyone break the spell and wake up Spring? Reads like a traditional fairytale.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exquisite illustrations provide a dreamy setting for this story that reads like a fairy tale about Lady Winter's determination to keep Sister Spring sleeping so that she may last longer. Sounds like an Ohio winter to me...

[Jennifer L · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was beautifully illustrated, I did not love the story. I wasn't keen on Sister Winter, a somewhat mean-spirited character. My daughter enjoyed it, but I wouldn't add it to my collection.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice description for Spring. I love the description of how the robin gets it's red breast! Winter was a little cruel not letting Spring wake up but a nice story of how the seasons change! Thumbs up!

[CRC Washburn]

Looks great! Forthcoming title.

[Caryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love the illustrations in this book - also anything that makes winter look evil is ok by me...

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable interpretation of how robin saved Sister Spring from Lady Winter's plan to keep her sleeping forever.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet folktale about lady Winter not wanting her sister Spring to wake up and the animals having to help. Nice Spring story and class read aloud. Ages 6+

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I like the concept and illustrations, it's a little wordy.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"original por quoi story, robin, spring, sister winter & sister spring, why animals hibernate, would adapt well for storytelling"

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting folk tale about Lady Winter trying to keep Sister Spring from waking up by successfully making the forest animals sleepy except for one, the Robin.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun story--that ties is with how the skunk got his stripe, the robin got his red breast, etc. . .

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for young children... five stars just for the great artwork!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an astonishingly lovely book! I was less in love with the text (and story) than I was the illustrations, but what illustrations!!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is a bit too long to use in preschool storytime, I think it would make a nice read aloud for elementary age kids.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about two warring season sisters, and how the animals get together to save Sister Spring. The illustrations are lovely, too.