In late December, snow blankets the landscape and the daylight hours are brief.
The Shortest day becomes the longest night, promising the joys of more winter activities and, before too long, the wonders of spring..
At last, the solstice arrives.
Poetic storytelling evokes the crisp air, the sparkling snow, and the seasonal calm, while vibrant illustrations teem with wild creatures and dazzle with the bright hues of sunset on snowy landscapes.
These animals and many more survive and even thrive during winter\'s deepest chill.
They are watched by cottontail rabbits, red foxes, and snowy owls.
They find mounds and lodges, homes for muskrats and beavers.
What will we discover along the way? As child and grandparent hike through the woods and along streams, they encounter deer and eagles.
Readers also tiptoe, scramble, and whisper.
The child seeks to solve a mystery: I search for you as the sunlight fades in the silent slough on the Shortest day.
The scene is quiet, yet alive with activity--if you know where to look.
Bundled up against the cold, a child and an adult explore the slough , a marshy area along the river where many animals live, hunt, and play.
In late December, snow blankets the landscape and the daylight hours are brief
