The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper & Carson Ellis

A Winter Solstice Picture Book About Light, Hope, and Yule

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper is a beautifully illustrated winter solstice picture book that celebrates the return of the light, the turning of the year, and the ancient human tradition of gathering together in darkness.

Based on Susan Cooper’s beloved poem, originally written for a theatrical celebration of the winter solstice, this luminous hardcover picture book follows the arc of the shortest day of the year. Long ago, people watched the sun sink low in the sky and wondered whether light would return. They built fires, lit candles, sang, danced, and gathered in community to welcome the sun back again.

Caldecott Honor artist Carson Ellis brings the poem to life with richly layered gouache illustrations that move across time, from ancient winter gatherings to modern celebrations filled with candles, greenery, music, and shared warmth. The result is a timeless seasonal book that honors light, memory, gratitude, hope, and the rituals that connect one generation to the next.

A poetic choice for winter solstice celebrations, Yule traditions, Advent and Christmas shelves, classroom seasonal studies, Waldorf-inspired winter rhythms, and family read-alouds during the darkest days of the year.

Book Details

• Title: The Shortest Day
• Author: Susan Cooper
• Illustrator: Carson Ellis
• Publisher: Candlewick Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 32
• Ages: 4–8 years

Praise & Recognition

The Shortest Day has received starred reviews from major review journals, with praise for Susan Cooper’s timeless winter solstice poem and Carson Ellis’s evocative illustrations. Reviewers have noted its beauty as a seasonal read-aloud, its celebration of light in the darkness, and its ability to connect ancient winter traditions with modern family celebrations.