Imperfect Genius

An introduction to the Winter Books series

I’ve compiled what I think is a great list of books for wintertime! The list includes titles for lessor-known holiday celebrations, literature about seasonal observances, craft and activity guides, books on winter science topics, as well as teaching resources. Over the next several days I will be posting a collection of books relating to a particular theme - such as Solstice, Folktales, Seasonal Delights, Cycles In Nature, Cultural Celebrations, etc.

These books can be ordered online, purchased from your local bookstore, or checked out from the library. I have only selected books which are currently available from multiple sources. Although there are many wonderful older titles, I have chosen not to include those that are out of print or otherwise hard to find. I want this list to be accessible to everyone.

In selecting books I gave careful consideration to the “wholeness” of each book. I searched for books that present themselves as timeless treasures and are worth inclusion in family traditions. The storyline, author notes, and illustrations all had a bearing on the overall quality of each book. In keeping with this approach, I decided not to include commercially-licensed character or cartoon books. There are many of these available, but they do not contain the artful illustrations and thoughtful content I was seeking.

Each book listed in this series will includes the title, author, isbn, cover picture, and a short review. You can use the ISBN to look the book up on your favorite site - be it Barnes & Noble, Fetchbook, or Alibris - to read further reviews and find the best price for each title. In many cases, Amazon provides the option of viewing a few inside pages, which can be helpful in determining if the book is suitable for your family.

I feel it’s necessary to note why I have not included books specific to Christmas. Since it’s observed by millions around the world there are literally thousands of books about Christmas, which are readily accessible and easy to find this time of year (or all year long if you are ordering online). Christmas dominates the holiday landscape in retail outlets during winter. You can find everything from cookbooks to children’s picture books that are themed around this holiday. Bookstores dedicate dozens of shelves and displays to these titles.

On the other hand, families who prefer a secular, multicultural, or nature-based approach to the winter season have a difficult time finding materials. In my experience it is especially hard to find books suitable for sharing with the whole family, so that was my focus.

My hope is that the posts contained within this Winter Books series help other families celebrate the joys of the season in their own special way.

Posts Within This Series:

• Solstice and Yule
• more to come!