Wendy Pfeffer is the author of many children's books, including the
Creatures in White series with Silver Burdett, several Let's Read
and Find Out titles for HarperCollins, andA Log's Lifewith
S&S.
Jesse Reisch has provided artwork for several children's and adult
books.
Praise for The Shortest Day:
"In a well-thought-out collection of ideas surrounding December 21
and the Winter Solstice, the author leads readers through what
happens to the sun and why... Back pages include an interesting and
useful variety of ideas, from more facts about the solstice with
explanatory diagrams, four projects that teachers, parents, and
adults who work with children would find fresh, and two "cooking"
activities, one for a human party and one for an avian one."
—Children's Literature
"Using clear, concise language, Pfeffer discusses important ideas
behind the shortest day of the year, such as the change from autumn
to winter as well as the concept of the Earth's tilting away from
the sun. The historical view provides a brief look at the days of
prehistoric sun worship as well as chronological interpretations of
the phenomenon from 5000 to 1000 years ago. Thus, young listeners
are exposed to the ideas of ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Incan, and
European astronomers and their efforts to explain this scientific
wonder. The modern scene of the solstice celebration, though
obviously at Christmas, features family, presents, and stockings on
the mantle but has no religious overtones. The remaining pages
feature more complete "Solstice Facts," four simple experiments,
two party suggestions, and a short but up-to-date list for further
reading. While appealing to a younger audience, this treatment
combines the cultural approach of Ellen Jackson's The Winter
Solstice (Millbrook, 1994) and the activities of Sandra Markle's
Exploring Winter (Atheneum, 1984; o.p.). Pfeffer uses an easy,
comfortable tone for conveying the basic information, and the end
pages will provide additional opportunities for would-be
astronomers to explore the principles on their own."
—School Library Journal
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