Why am I passionate about this?

As a children’s librarian and author, I am curious about all kinds of subjects. So, the arctic wilderness which appears to be barren tundra but teems with animal life, unique landforms, and aurora borealis glow intrigued me. Winter Solstice is an excellent theme to use for multicultural study and as an alternative topic for December when the completing holidays seem like overkill. I have been to Alaska to hear glaciers boom as they calf, see endless ice fields, and witness frolicking sea lions.


I wrote

Book cover of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

What is my book about?

Tuktuk the collared lemming is almost ready for the long winter night—all he needs is warm fur to line his…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Winter: A Solstice Story

Robin Currie Why did I love this book?

I was captivated by the gentle colors and repeating texts of this books.

Not so much a story as a description of forest animals summoned to share gifts to encourage the light to return on this longest night of the year. Even though the animals are outdoors in the snow it was clear they were warmed by being together and sharing.

Excellent bedtime book or to start discussion of generosity and sharing.

By Kelsey E. Gross, Renata Liwska (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Winter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

From debut author Kelsey Gross and New York Times bestselling artist Renata Liwska comes a gentle and lulling picture book celebrating the magic of the Winter Solstice with a group of animal friends in a quiet forest.

Tonight is the longest night of the year-solstice is here! Deep in the forest, the dark, cold, and quiet of winter is all around. Owl, Mouse, and Deer all watch the light fades and dark surrounds them, but they have a gift of hope to share with their neighbors. The moon and stars shine down on a lone tree in the forest, and…


Book cover of On the Shortest Day

Robin Currie Why did I love this book?

On the shortest day of the year, a grandfather and child explore a marsh area.

Though it looks desolate at first, carefully walking and watching reveals all kinds of life, flying overhead, burrowed in trees, and tucked under the snow. The long night settles in with quiet comfort and hope waiting for spring.

I love the quiet tone of a multigenerational adventure and finding something where it looks like there is nothing. A good bedtime book or for sharing in school.

By Laura Sulentich Fredrickson, Laurie Caple (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked On the Shortest Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

In late December, snow blankets the landscape and the daylight hours are brief. Bundled up against the cold, a child and an adult explore the slough, a marshy area along the river where many animals live, hunt, and play. The scene is quiet, yet alive with activity—if you know where to look.
The child seeks to solve a mystery:
I search for you
as the sunlight fades
in the silent slough
on the shortest day.
Readers also tiptoe, scramble, and whisper. What will we discover along the way?
As child and grandparent hike through the woods and along streams, they…


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Book cover of From Cells to Ourselves: The Story of Evolution

From Cells to Ourselves By Gill Arbuthnott, Chris Nielsen (illustrator),

4.5 billion years ago, Earth was forming - but nothing could have survived there…

From Cells to Ourselves is the incredible story of how life on earth started and how it gradually evolved from the first simple cells to the abundance of life around us today. Walk with dinosaurs, analyse…

Book cover of Snow Party

Robin Currie Why did I love this book?

As a librarian I am always looking for a good read aloud for story time and this book is it!

The snow people only come to life if there is snow on the solstice! Full of all the magic and wonder of snow people who celebrate cold as only snow people can – full of feasting, snow family antics, and meaningful connections. There are lots of good follow-up crafts and activities.

Perfect for a winter but not Christmas theme at the library or preschool, even early grades.

By Harriet Ziefert, Mark Jones (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Snow Party as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

If the first snow falls on the first day of winter, the snow men, snow women, and snow children come out for a special party. The festivities include food, dancing, singing, and some surprises! With breathtaking pastel illustrations and an understated,enchanting story, this is the perfect book for a snowy day . . . or to read while wishing for snow to fall.


Book cover of Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter

Robin Currie Why did I love this book?

Kids get more excited than adults about the shift from fall to winter – new boots and coats and mittens before they are lost!

I like to share in the library the way animals prepare for winter, too. Some sleep, some change color, some fly south. The spare lyrical text makes this a good read aloud supporting themes and units for preschool and Kindergarten of winter, snow, and solstice.

In addition circles details on each page explain more about the approach to winter for children to explore later.

By Jessica Kulekjian, Salini Perera (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A poetic and informative exploration of the many ways animals face the challenges of winter.

When the autumn days grow shorter and the temperatures cool, animals prepare for winter. Some, the hiders, choose a place to rest and wait out the winter, hibernating under the ground or snuggling in a sheltered spot. Other creatures are seekers, migrating to new locations where the weather is milder and the food sources more plentiful. And then there are the finders, who keep warm and fed by adapting to the new conditions. Every animal knows just what to do — following an ingenious plan…


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Book cover of Haven

Haven By Valerie Biel,

Taking only what they can quickly pack, 11-year-old Mardella and her mom secretly move away from their abusive home to start a fresh life in Haven, MN. But Mardella’s sure she's to blame—if only she hadn’t dialed 911, her dad wouldn’t be in jail, her mom wouldn't have been fired,…

Book cover of The Origin of Day and Night

Robin Currie Why did I love this book?

I appreciate the genuine Inuit voice of this story of creation, so I researched the author.

Rumolt is active in the Inuit community and teaches elementary school there, but her education was started by her grandmother’s traditional tales. The book is in spare text in the tradition of the storyteller. The art is primarily black and white with touches of color, all the more welcome as a surprise.

In the end the story is about compromise and friendship and a beautiful introduction to a unit or theme of creation, seasons, or mythology. 

By Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt, Lenny Lishchenko (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Origin of Day and Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

In this Inuit tale, the actions of a hare and a fox change the Arctic forever by creating day and night. In very early times, there was no night or day and words spoken by chance could become real. When a hare and a fox meet and express their longing for light and darkness, their words are too powerful to be denied. Passed orally from storyteller to storyteller for hundreds of years, this beautifully illustrated story weaves together elements of an origin story and a traditional animal tale, giving young readers a window into Inuit mythology.


Explore my book 😀

Book cover of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale

What is my book about?

Tuktuk the collared lemming is almost ready for the long winter night—all he needs is warm fur to line his nest. When one furry kamik (boot) slips off an Inuit driver’s sled, Tuktuk is in luck! But as he drags it home, Putak the polar bear, Aput the arctic fox, and Masak the caribou eye this little lemming’s prize and want it for their own. Tuktuk thinks fast, but can he outwit the other animals? This fictional story includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 34-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online.

Book cover of Winter: A Solstice Story
Book cover of On the Shortest Day
Book cover of Snow Party

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Interested in winter, wildlife, and animals?

Winter 23 books
Wildlife 42 books
Animals 234 books