Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World

by Heather Conrad, DeForest Walker (Illustrator)

Children's picture book about winter celebrations around the world: Solstice, Yule, Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Teng Chieh, Diwali, Soyal, Las Posadas, Zagmuk, Saturnalia.

For ages 3-9. Thirteen color illustrations. Book Size: 9.25" x 7.5"

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Christmas, Childrens

29 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well with Heather Conrad's Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World, from the book title, it in my humble opinion certainly promises all kinds of interesting light and fire themed textual representations.

However, and if I am to be brutally honest regarding Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations around the World, this book most definitely has not at all wowed me, has not at all been either enjoyable or engaging, not to mention not really all that educational either. For with Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World, the introduction Heather Conrad presents before she introduces her ten seasonal winter celebrations (and which definitely are totally sparse on detail as well and only at best are kind of scratching the proverbial surface so to speak, are with regard to the actual featured information and details just barely adequate and as such not really sufficiently informative), yes, Conrad's opening remarks for Winter Lights: Winter Celebrations Around the World, to me and for me, these feel so uncomfortably patronising and even ridiculing towards the cultures of the past that I am feeling majorly preached at and talked down to and with a distinct consideration that the author obviously seems to believe that ALL returning of the light, or coaxing the returning of the light themed global winter rituals and celebration are really nothing but laughable superstitions. And while while this Weltanschauung is actually only specifically and obviously textually present in the introduction for Winter Lights: Winter Celebrations Around the World, I do indeed feel and think that below the surface, Heather Conrad's denigration and holier than thou attitude is also and certainly palpable when she describes Hanukkah, Saturnalia and other celebrations and that while reading the main textual body of Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World, in particular my inner child considers this author as someone who obviously finds celebrating the returning of the light ridiculous, silly and a bit nonsensical.

And combined with the fact that there is no bibliography with suggestions for further reading provided by Heather Conrad in Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World, that deForest Whittaker's accompanying artwork if colourful but also much too blurry and featureless to be aesthetically enjoyable for me, and that the lack of textual linkages between the different feasts and festivals (although they do definitely exist and that at the very least Heather Conrad should be making a point showing that a sizeable majority of the winter festivals she is showcasing in Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World make use of fire) are hugely textually frustrating, sorry but for me, a two star rating is all I am able to consider (and to point out that in particular more information and a less annoying author attitude would be needed for me to consider Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World with a higher ranking and to recommend it).

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World is a children's picture book written by Heather Conrad and illustrated by DeForest Walker. It is a collection of snippets of winter celebrations around the world.

Conrad's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. With simple language, Conrad explains ten winter holidays involving lights in some manner over a two-page spread. Not enough information is gathered to make an exhaustive detail of each holiday, but enough to peak interest to look elsewhere. Walker's collage like illustrations is much to be desired, as it could have represented the celebrations much better.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Over a two-page spread, the book collects snippets of winter holidays around the world: Zagmuk, Yule, Saturnalia, Soyal, Teng Chieh, Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Las Posadas, and Kwanza.

All in all, Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World is a nice book filled with information about winter holidays that are celebrated around the world.

[Savannah Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diverse and simply put for children. I enjoyed this one and would recommend this to teachers, or parents who are following lessons on winter holidays.

[Gina]

This book shows diversity of winter holidays that reflects on the diversity of communities in our world and in classrooms. We all have different ways that we celebrate winter so for a writing lesson, students may write a short story in their writer's notebook about how they celebrate winter or if students never experienced having snow, they may write about how would winter look and feel to them if it snowed?

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book looks at 10 festivals of light from around the world and the history. The history is very simply told. Several of the festivals I had never heard of and it was interesting to learn a little about them. I would have liked a little bit more information about the holidays.

[Fiberassociations · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet book we read to our son. Shows a diversity of winter holidays that reflects on the diversity of communities in our world. Note the dog and cat hidden in the simple pictures.