I am not jumping up and down and saying Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (currently available, but I read via an online reader copy) is the best solstice book ever, but I am jumping in to say this is a nice and slightly different approach to the subject. What I have seen for solstice books tend to show more winter scenes and events done to celebrate the seasonal moment. When we find the shortest day of the year, we usually are talking about winter in a winter wonderland. But here, we talk about the same celebration, but on a beach based on the events the author went to near her California home.
Overall, the story is simple, poetic and fun. There is not a lot of “wow factor” but it is not lacking. It is easy to read and understand. It is enjoyable and while not humorous, it does have some giggles. The illustrations are where most of my likes come from as they are expressive, bold and really get into things. They are setting a mood of celebration but also calm and relaxation. There is a two page spread that lets us see other celebrations happening around the world and the end sums up the history and background.
This picture book is aimed at an at least 5 and up crowd, but really can be adapted for most ages. It also would work well for the adult who loves a fun picture book, holidays and different subjects. Great for one-on-one reading or in a classroom setting.