The Summer Solstice

by Ellen Jackson, Jan Davey Ellis

From ancient times to the present, people have found many ways to express their thankfulness for the sun's gift of warmth and light. THE SUMMER SOLSTICE depicts the mysterious rites of the Egyptians, the tales of fairies and selkies, the modern parades and baseball games--all part of the fun and folklore of this happy time.

WHAT IS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, a time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. The summer solstice marks the first official day of summer.

Genres: Summer, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference, Nature, Folklore

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2001

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm usually kind of depressed on the summer solstice. Even though it seems as if summer has only just begun, soon we will be losing precious minutes of daylight, and almost before we know it, it will be getting dark before seven in the evening, then six, and then it will be winter again. No more sitting out back, reading books until nine o'clock. My evening walks will have to happen earlier and earlier. Life will begin to shift back indoors again.

Sigh.

Perhaps what I need is something to lift my spirits . . . something like watching a large blazing wheel roll down a hill into the river. That's what they did in Lithuania long, long ago to celebrate the solstice. Sounds kind of cheery. Indeed, fire seems to be the most popular way of paying homage to the burning yellow orb in the sky. We dance around bonfires, toss herbs into the flames, and wreaths over them to drive away evil and bring good luck.

Jackson's book takes us around the world in an examination of how other cultures mark this day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. The author wanders back in history to visit ancient stone circles and old legends, and takes a look at how the solstice is celebrated today. There are dances, parades, and nighttime baseball games played using no artificial lights. One page explores the sun, and diagrams explain how Earth's rotation causes seasons. There is also a Polynesian folktale, and a few pages of midsummer activities.

Nice illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis.


If I'm doing the bonfire thing, I might as well make some s'mores. That should elevate my mood (and my cholesterol levels.)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Ellen Jackson and illustrator Jan Davey Ellis, who have also collaborated on picture books about the other three cardinal points of the solar year—winter solstice, autumn equinox and spring equinox—here explore the history and folk customs surrounding the summer solstice worldwide. Ancient Lithuanian midsummer celebrations, Native American stone circles tracking the movements of the sun, Chumash and Anasazi rock paintings illuminated only on the day of the summer solstice, the ancient Egyptian festival to honor the goddess Isis at midsummer, and ancient European bonfires and celebrations at this time of year are all covered. A brief discussion of how summer solstice is honored today, particularly in Europe and North America, is then followed by a retelling of a Hawaiian folktale concerning how Maui tamed the sun, leading to longer days in summer and shorter ones in winter. The final pages of the book are given over to activity, craft and cooking ideas for this time of year...

Like The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest , which is the only other one of these four books I have already read, I found The Summer Solstice quite engaging, appreciating the informative text, appealing artwork and fun activity ideas. There aren't a great many picture books devoted specifically to the summer solstice, save for Wendy Pfeffer and Linda Bleck's The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice , which is also part of a four-book collection about the cardinal points of the solar year, and which also highlights various cultural beliefs and practices around this day; and the more recent Summer: A Solstice Story by Kelsey E. Gross and Renata Liwska, which is more of a sweet story set at summer solstice, rather than an exploration of the day itself. Given that this is so, Jackson and Ellis' book is a valuable addition to any childhood library, and is one I would recommend to those seeking books for young people about this day, its history, and its associated cultural practices and beliefs.

[Jessie Polson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a non-fiction children’s book that I would deem best for the middle school level. This book talks about how different countries celebrate the Summer Solstice. My favorite piece of information from this book was how Ireland celebrates the Summer Solstice by dancing with music and story telling around festivals that are celebrating Summer! This book was very informative and had many intriguing drawings that students would love!!!

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty solid intro. I wish there were more stories, though.

[Kellene · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the summer solstice to share with youngsters

[Memory Kopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Solstice tells of how this event has been celebrated all over the world for centuries. This event is when the sun is at its highest point in the sky and it is the longest day of the year. The author tells of the Chumash Indians in California cutting holes in the walls of their caves to let the sunlight shine through. The ancient Egyptian people held a festival in honor of the goddess Isis who they believed was the reason the Nile River swelled during the Solstice because they feel it was her tears from crying over her lost husband Osiris. Many people today still celebrate this event by lighting fires on hilltops and jumping through the flames for good luck. The author tells of all the ways this event is celebrated and she also tells of the scientific reasons for the Solstice. Ellen Jackson adds some fun activities in the end pages to give readers hands on experience when learning about the solstice. She gives an extensive bibliography at the end to show the extensive research she did when writing this book. This author and illustrator have worked together to make multiple books on the solstices and equinoxes and they have been very successful. The illustrators earth tone pictures help to enhance the words on the page and give them excitement. This would be a great book to use with a lesson on the solstice or for younger ones a lesson on the sun and season changes. It would be most appropriate for a read aloud for second or third grade. I was drawn to this book at the library from the big bright picture of the sun on the cover and the big sunflowers on the back. I would recommend it to teachers and parents wanting a fun and educational read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with information from the origins of celebrating the summer solstice to today’s celebrations all over the world. For young students who are interested in how people make sense of their world as they observe it, this would be a fascinating read. It begins with Lithuanian villagers rolling a flaming tire down a hill, shows the beginnings and reasons for sun worship, and includes both discoveries made by ancient peoples and how they observed the actual solstice, to someone who just want to discover what’s happening today. Illustrations show the details that are described in the text.

[Bart Everson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a kid-friendly explication of the summer solstice from diverse world traditions and the scientific perspective as well. Includes a story from Hawaii and hands-on activities. (This is one in a series of four books by Ellen Jackson on the solstices and equinoxes. Wendy Pfeffer has a similar series, including The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice.)

[Marmot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book, not as good as I had hoped. The illustrations were nice, and the story at the end was good, but the majority of the book was too much facts and not enough to like an interesting story to hold my kids attention.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you wonder how ancient people celebrate summer solstice and why it is important, this book is a good place to start.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly bedtime story material, but I enjoyed learned alongside my kids. It would be a great launching point for a unit study about seasons and cultures.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this except that it describes a very narrow Western scope of solstice celebrations.