Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night: A Winter and Holiday Book

by Megan Litwin, Nneka Myers (Illustrator)

Celebrate winter with this magical twist on a beloved nursery rhyme that brings the shimmering season of lights to life.

Shimmer,

Glimmer,

Glowing

Light -

Twinkle, twinkle, winter night.

Whether it's the moon in the crisp, cool sky, flickering candles in a neighbor's window, or the dazzling lights strung up about town, winter is a time of glowing warmth and cozy closeness. Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night captures this charm, making it perfect for bedtimes and sing-alongs on days when the sun goes to sleep early--and winter wonders shine bright.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Storytime, Poetry, Christmas, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Darla]

Peaceful,
perfect
silent-
white
twinkle, twinkle,
winter night.

The lights from Christmas, Hanukkah, and nature are all included in this rhyming picture book extolling the lights we see on winter nights. The full color illustrations are racially diverse and depict a town that is happily celebrating the joys of the season. A fabulous read for bedtime and those who might be apprehensive about the darkness at night.

[Meg]

Dear Future Meg thinking you might do this for a January storytime:
There is a Christmas village in the book.
Love,
Past Meg

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

"In the quiet, calm, and clear---
sky sparkles like a chandelier.
Shimmer, glimmer, glowing light---
twinkle, twinkle, winter night."

A little picture book that shines with the glow of sparkly winter nights.

[Angela De Groot]

Delightful pb in the stylings of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star celebrating the magic of wintertime. Perfect for warm and cosy bedtime snuggles and sing-alongs.

[Kelly Carey]

A perfect winter book to share with little readers!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night takes readers on a joyous trek through a quiet snow draped forest with snuggled in woodland creatures, a jaunty winking owl and a skating party before inviting the reader to a bustling winter hamlet bubbling with the diverse ways families enjoy the season. The book is filled with reverence, joy, light, and community as it invites readers to notice all the wonders of winter.

Teachers and librarians will adore this ideal read-aloud filled with story time gold. Using the recognizable beat of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, author Litwin encourages readers to consider the sights, sounds and feelings of winter with luscious words and a gentle rhyme.

Like a warm cup of cocoa on a frosty winter night readers will snuggle into the adorable illustrations and swoon worthy phrases.

If you are looking to gift a book this winter – this is the one!

[Gabrielle Stoller]

This really is a sweet take on a familiar nursery rhyme and instead focuses on the season of winter and light. There is a little bit of holiday representation but that is not the bulk of the text.

[Kayla Edwards]

Beautifully done. Can be used for just winter or winter-holiday storytimes.

[Jonathan]

A sparkling celebration of wintertime! Author Megan Litwin’s luminous, rhyming text calls upon classic bedtime stories such as ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, but infuses them with a more inclusive point of view, representing many holiday traditions. By exploring all the sources of warmth, light, and wonder on a winter’s night, she writes a story for every child. Illustrator Nneka Myers captures this sense of wonder beautifully, with super-saturated spreads and glowing effects that feel truly magical. Vivid purple skies and a red coat reminiscent of The Snowy Day make the visuals feel both fresh and familiar. Fans of the movie Frozen will find a lot to love in the cascading diamond patterns and snowscapes, as well as the musical text. Read this one aloud for a festive seasonal story time, or at bedtime all winter long!

[Jorge Lacera]

This book actually made me excited for winter! The text and art together create a beautiful picture of all the magical light that the season brings...the way twinkly lights on houses celebrate the longer nights...the glow of the moon over an ice skating rink...a town center Christmas tree welcoming residents to gather around it. There is much to love about winter and TWINKLE, TWINKLE, WINTER NIGHT invites readers to slow down and notice.

The rhyming text is well done, easy for a read aloud, or for emerging readers to practice their skills. The illustrations use color and lighting to inspire. The story winds down at just the right time, making bedtime feel cozy and comfortable.

[Lisa Tolin]

Such a sweet and clever re-working of a familiar classic. This glittery vision of winter night shows that even darkest winter nights are full of light! It celebrates the quiet snow of the woods and the candles and holiday lights of a busy town. This could be a holiday classic, too, with a gentle acknowledgment of the different ways "houses wear their very best" for the season. Nneka Myers' illustrations are perfect depictions of the "magic, wonder, beauty bright" described by Megan Litwin. A wonderful singalong, holiday, bedtime treasure.

[Brittany Thurman]

A whimsical and dreamy rhyming picture book, set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The magic of nighttime cascades through this story as a little girl and her father explore the night. They go from the great outdoors, to an ice rank, seeing nighttime sights such as owls, but especially the stars that glimmer. Their evening adventure brings them to a busy, colorful and lit town, where there is much to “look around”, see and admire.
This is a perfect bedtime read-for all who love the exploration that comes with night!

[Ellie Peterson]

Here I am, writing this review in late summer and all I want to do now is take out all my winter holiday decorations and put on a big, fluffy parka. Litwin evokes the magic of snowy, winter nights and the nostalgia of winter holidays in this beautifully written picture book. It's an absolute must-read for a cozy night indoors with the kiddos, maybe with a giant mug of hot cocoa... and marshmallows. (Oh yeah, I'm feeling pretty nostalgic now.) Myers delightfully illustrates every element of winter, from snowflakes to windows glowing with light. Loved this BOOK!!!

[Jyoti Gopal]

What a sweet retelling of the classic Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! Author Megan Litwin and Illustrator Nneka Myers have created a dreamy, magical new ode that celebrates the magic of winter lights, whether in the quiet hush of stars in the forest, or the glittering sparkles of a town lit up for festivities. A great bed time story or a read-aloud to celebrate winter and the winter holidays.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/twinkl...

TWINKLE, TWINKLE, WINTER NIGHT is a sweet bedtime story that celebrates winter. This is a lovely poem about winter and all the magic of the snow, stars, and holidays (with multiple ones represented) that continues all the way to sleep.

What I loved: This is a really lovely book that features full page illustrations with lots of color and details, animals and people. The night sky is painted in shades of purple that keep the whole book feeling vibrant and bright. Adorable people and animals provide additional interest throughout, and it was great to see multiple winter holidays represented in the images and implied through the poem. The text flows off the tongue smoothly and could be sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" if caregivers feel so bold.

The text is large and easy to read with only a couple phrases on each page, which will work well for the youngest of readers. This is a sweet and soothing book that is great for toddlers and up!

Final verdict: TWINKLE, TWINKLE, WINTER NIGHT is a charming and lyrical picture book that celebrates all the joy of winter.

[Megan Lacera]

A wonderful book to celebrate the magic and beauty of winter. The lovely lyrical rhyming text captures the sensory delights of the season while the art brings it all to twinkle-y, joyful life. The story winds down at the perfect moment, as our main characters (and a few cozy, cuddly animals outside) get ready to snuggle in their beds.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE, WINTER NIGHT is a welcome addition to home and school libraries...there's something so enchanting about the many sources of light in winter...the tiny, sparking lights on houses, the moon and starlight and the way that bounce of newly fallen snow. This book encourages readers to notice and be warmed by them all.

[Dianne White]

Stars shimmering, lights glimmering, snowflakes "dressing trees in coats of lace. " Is there anything quite as magical as a sparkly winter night? With luminous illustrations by Nneka Myers, Megan Litwin's gorgeous poem, Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night, (a lovely twist on the nursery rhyme) brings the season into focus, reminding readers of the warmth and coziness - the wonder - of winter. "Everywhere you look there's LIGHT."

From "quiet wood to busy town," this dreamy book is an invitation to slow down, snuggle up, and gently tuck into bed where sweet dreams surely await... ✨⭐✨

[Alicia]

I wasn't as taken with it as I thought I would be. The two big hangups I have are that the placement of the words shifts too much from page to page and spread to spread that I found myself looking for the words while others didn't have any words and it disrupted the flow. Similarly, the schematic of the story had some awkwardly chosen words that it doesn't roll off the tongue if you were to read it out loud because I was disrupted and I was reading it to myself.

The illustrations certainly capture the magic of the winter season from ice skating on a pond to holiday towns with new-fallen snow.

[Lori Alexander]

Magical! What a lovely winter picture book! This sweet story takes a warm look at a wintery night, from the burrowing animals to the nearby neighbors preparing for their holiday celebrations. Love how inclusive this book is, with more than just Christmas featured. This would make a perfect bedtime read-aloud all winter long (and it makes me wish for snow in my neighborhood in Tucson). Gorgeous illustrations and adore the copyright page where the illustrator includes "holiday cheer" as one of the tools used to create this book!

[Nicole Chen]

Set to the rhythm of the classic, Twinkle twinkle, little star, this sweet, rhyming celebration of all things wintery, snowy, and cozy is a perfect book to read by candle light, with a steaming cup of hot cocoa in your hands, and a loved one (or two or three or four!) by your side. Kids will love this lovely, read aloud celebration of family, friends, and light that brightens our hearts. An instant classic!

[Eija]

A beautiful celebration of winter and all that the season promises. Ice skating, snowflakes, sparkling snow, glistening stars, holiday lights decorating houses and streets.

No particular holiday is mentioned, but there is representation in the illustrations of menorahs, candles for Kwanzaa, and Christmas trees.

A lovely celebration of winter with beautiful language and delightful rhymes in this inclusive winter holiday book.

[Amanda Smith]

Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night is a warm hug in book form, shimmering with light and joy. While mature readers will get lost in Litwin's lyrical language and unique word choice, little ones will delight in the familiarity of the rhythm and repetition, and in Myers' colorful illustrations. This is a perfect winter night snuggle book, leaving readers with the hopeful message that there is always light.

[Nicole Miller]

I think this is a great holiday book as it is not specifically a "Holiday book" and yet has representations of most of the religious holidays throughout the town. Often with holiday books, it is specific to a certain religion but I really like the diversity in this one. The illustrations are as crisp as a winter night and I love the joy though out the book, whether it be our little guide, families, or woodland creatures.

[Marissa]

“Come along to see the show./Nightfall sets the world aglow.”

The inclusive, glowing spirit of this book is reflected in Megan Litwin’s simple yet rich, eloquent phrasing throughout the entire tale. Each beautifully illustrated and articulated page evokes the warmth, sparkle, and magic of the season of lights. Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night is now my family’s most cherished winter picture book. I plan on gifting this treasure to all of the littles in my life for many years to come!

[Beth Kakuma-Depew]

Very sweet charming with gentle easy rhyming text that follows the pictures. This would make a lovely bedtime or gift book, and I love that it includes other winter holidays besides just Christmas. Readers see Hannukah candles and Kwanzaa candles in windows as well as Christmas trees.

I think this would be too slow and quiet for a classroom read-aloud, but I might try it with the very littlest PreKs

[Harshita Jerath]

“Houses wear their very best
Each one differs from the rest.”

TWINKLE TWINKLE WINTER NIGHT, this picture book is like music to the ears and a pure delight for the eyes. A perfect read for winter nights when you curl up with a cup of cocoa. It would even make a lovely bedtime read as the soft sounds whisper in your ears. ❄️

[Anne]

Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night is a gem of a rhyming picture book written by Megan Litwin and illustrated by Nneka Myers. Meg's rhymes speak to us of winter lights in the woods and in the town - on houses, Christmas trees and Hanukkah menorahs. Nneka's glorious purple provides the perfect backdrop to winter activities & friends and the joy of light during the time of darkness.

[Carrie Kruck]

The perfect book for a winter read-aloud! It's so wonderful to find a holiday book that invites in readers from all backgrounds, no matter what they celebrate, connecting us all through the wonder and hopefulness of twinkling lights in the dark. The illustrations are rich and luscious, and the rhyming text is so warm and embracing! Delightful!

[Laura Lavoie]

The perfect winter lullaby! With gentle, rhyming lyrical text, this will be your new favorite bedtime book. A beautiful ode to winter with stunning illustrations that perfectly complement the text. Makes me want to snuggle up with a blanket and a mug of hot cocoa!

[Blythe Russo]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and the color palette truly evokes a sense of wintertime magic. It was lovely to see both Christmas and Hanukkah depicted and I loved how the rhyming text flowed throughout the book like a snowy breeze through the page spreads. The poetic text was so soothing to read and would be a perfect read before bedtime.

[Cynthia]

A very enjoyable reimagined story from a classic poem, this very well crafted rhyming picture book about the magic of winter is a perfect addition to celebrate winter holidays around family marveling at the quiet beauty of the season. Recommended gift for young families this year!