Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here

by Jean Craighead George, Loretta Krupinski (Illustrator)

From a letter written by her grandmother, Rebecca learns that winter began on June 21, while she was cooling off under the hose. The northern half of the Earth began to grow cold, and the days grew shorter. The birds began to fly to the sunny underside of the Earth, and the groundhogs and bears went to sleep. But on December 22, summer will begin. Before long, Rebecca will take off her shoes and jump over bluebells. 1993 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Science, Holiday, Christmas

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Jean Craighead George wrote over eighty popular books for young adults, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain. Most of her books deal with topics related to the environment and the natural world. While she mostly wrote children's fiction, she also wrote at least two guides to cooking with wild foods, and an autobiography, Journey Inward.

The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yes indeed, Jean Craighead George’s 1993 picture book Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here is most definitely textually nicely descriptive enough about what happens during winter in the Northern Hemisphere (short days, snow, animals that migrate, den up or hibernate, not particularly scientific in scope and pretty simply penned by Craighead George, but sufficiently informative as a general introduction, with illustrator Loretta Krupinski providing a colourfully realistic aesthetic mirror that is though at times also a trifle too bright and garish for my own visual tastes and in particular regarding those pictures that are not depicting animals or snowscapes). However, unfortunately and in my humble opinion, Jean Craighead George’s presented text for Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here is also or at least can be more than a bit confusing with regard to when winter as a season actually starts. For honestly, when I am reading that letter from the grandmother to her granddaughter in Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here, it does kind of feel as though she is almost claiming to Rebecca that winter and the coldness of winter supposedly already somewhat commence right after the Summer Solstice, in late June. And I certainly do find this scenario rather confusing and definitely problematic to grasp especially for younger children, because while it is of course true that after the Summer Solstice, the days slowly begin to get shorter, it is also not as though there is suddenly an onset of winter and cold temperatures then.

Therefore, while I do think that generally, Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here does textually and illustratively provide a decent introduction to winter, the potential confusion that I do find within Jean Craighead George’s printed words regarding the actual start of winter, yes, this does make me consider only three stars for Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here and to wish that George’s presented text were a bit less confusing in parts.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about what happens in winter, how the earth moves, etc. Not too scientific, but interesting and informative and written nicely in the form of a letter from Grandmother to granddaughter.
ETA: In rereading this with my children, I realized that it is rather confusing as to when "winter" or "summer" begin. Please see Manybook's review for details:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dear Jean,

I know that, and don't call me Rebecca.

This book was pleasant enough and a nice introduction to the concept of solstice and equinox, days getting longer and shorter, etc. etc. But it oversimplified things by a lot. Sure, some plants respond to the changes in light--some more than others. But you know what else they respond to? Temperature, and also whether there is snow on the ground. It felt kind of ridiculous to be reading this book, which announces that things begin to grow again on December 22, to a classroom of Minnesotan children. Yeah, it's real dark here. But it's also going to be very cold for the next three or four months and it is not until after that that anything will grow. June 22, which the author refers to as the day when things start to die, is here when gardens are just about to reach their roar.

Sorry, Jean. If you had just stuck to explanations of light and dark, this could have been a better read.

Yours,

Becky

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet letter from a grandmother to her granddaughter. The letter details the changing of the seasons in a lyrical narrative, with illustrations that depict animals in winter.

We enjoyed reading this book together, although I felt like some of the narrative was a bit confusing.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet book with nice illustrations. Purchased to read to my kids over winter solstice and they loved it.

[MaryJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a quest to find a terrific winter solstice book, but this one is not the winner. In my opinion the illustrations did not enhance the text.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a letter from a grandma describing the habits of animals during winter.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the simplicity of this book. The "little hands" pulling night over the day concept was cute and the illustrations are really nice. Plus...it ends with the warm thoughts of summer!

We didn't learn anything new from this, but it was still a lovely book and I would recommend it for all children in the northern hemisphere.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that the story was written in the style of a letter from a grandmother to a granddaughter. It has beautiful pictures and the idea behind the explanation of the solstices was interesting. However, I don’t feel like it quite hit the mark. Or maybe the whole idea that flowers are dying when you first see the blooming just felt too deep for my preschoolers, even if it’s “true”.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures are realistic. The idea of Grandma writing this in a letter to Rebecca didn't really work for me. And I wish there were a little more to her explanations. I liked the thought that the days are already getting shorter on the first day of summer. We don't think about that much. (I try not to!)

[Marybelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet picture book that explains the change of season. My copy of the book belonged to a child who annotated and underlined certain section. She did a self portrait and wrote a message to Rebecca as well. What a nice way to enjoy a book.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute art and simple lines about what happens in winter. The bit about little hands might be taken literally and confuse small children.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful picture book of a letter penned from grandmother to granddaughter. I love the imagery that starting Dec 22, small hands are grabbing winter away and bringing summer back.

[Taryn McCollum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to introduce to children the concept of solstice. Our family, as farmers, live in rhythms with the seasons. This book showcases that and the way nature does as well.

[Therese Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated book that explains how time changes with the seasons was the perfect selection for Cameron and grandma to read together. Not only did we have the fall time change, but this was one of the first gift books I purchased his mother Rebecca, as well as a copy for our local library which is still on the shelves. I’m so glad this story book will be embraced by a second generation in our family.

[Arline · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not my favorite book by Jean Craighead George. It has her well-known respect for the natural world. There were no interesting character, the character is winter.
I like how George describes winter and how it announces its presents, “but you can’t serve it snacks.”
You could focus a lesson around this book on the signs of winter (going back in a reread and look at the details and what they mean) or you could use it start an investigation into how the earth’s tilt causes the seasons.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been around since 1990 and is reminiscent of Aldo Leopold's Sand County Almanac, but for young children. It is a letter from a grandmother to her granddaughter telling here what she sees throughout the year. It is a great book to read for the solstices. This is a great book to introduce children or adults to phenology.

This book could be used as a stepping off point for discussion about global warming and the impact it has on the seasons and all living things.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti...

[Karelle Royal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a grandmother who writes a letter to her granddaughter about winter.
Great book to use to teach about letter writing.
Science: can be used to teach about the changes in the seasons as it relates to the earth's rotation. can also be used with younger students to teach about the weather.
S/S: can be used to teach about different places around the world with different climates (tropical places=no winter vs. Alaska= cold winters).
Illustrations are warm and cozy.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate the chance to get my hands on any child-geared book about the Winter Solstice, this one fell short. The writing was stilted and unimaginative, failing to engage me. (The illustrations were lovely, though.) Overall, while it is about the turn of the seasons that hinge on the Solstices, it has very little to offer of magick, myth, or memorable fact for the pagan child.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age Range: 4-8
Number of Pages:32

Rebecca's grandmother wrote her a letter. From this letter, Rebecca learns when the different seasons are. This would be a great book to use to encourage children to write friendly letters to their family. I could see this book lending itself nicely into a writing project.

[Ellen Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great description of seasons changing...can be used to discuss the meaning of seasons changing and daylight savings time. It discusses the changes nature makes for a season change. A writing extension idea would be to have students continue the letter from the last page and describe the changes nature goes through during the winter to summer transition.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

We picked up this one because George wrote My Side of the Mountain and we were curious how a picture book would be. The text was decent but odd; the illustrations were good. Good book about the seasons.

[Marmot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually found this to be one of the best books written for kids about the winter solstice. Others were way too scientific or factual to hold my kids interest. I prefer this style, more of a story, with not too much "mumbo jumbo" as they can relate and enjoy it more.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter and I read this last night. It was a little bit hard for her to read on her own. But all in all, a great story for a second grader.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drat! Why didn't I discover this book earlier?! Pretty great information about the equinox and what happens as days get longer and shorter.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet illustrations (with a kitty!) and educational about the changing seasons. Passing on to my son's school.

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing illistrations that takes the reader through the changing seasons and their bueaty with the story.

[bex o.donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official Rating:
5/5 stars 🌟

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Include this with science lessons on seasons and solstices.