Winter is the season for dreaming, creating, and imagining other worlds. It’s also the best time to indulge your inner child (or rediscover it). One of my resolutions this year is to fully immerse myself in wonder. It’s second nature for children to see enchantment everywhere they look, but it’s a lot harder for adults. So I’d like to begin 2023 with a list of recommendations to kindle a bit of magic into your life during a time that is usually considered bleak. Even if you don’t follow the Hygge lifestyle, I hope these stories will be as comforting as a mug of hot cocoa.
Winter Tales by Dawn Casey and Zanna Goldhawk
From the publisher: Snuggle up by the fireside with this heartwarming collection of tales, celebrating the wonders of winter. Explore frozen lands with snow maidens and bear kings, and follow heroes and heroines on epic journeys that will test the power of friendship. This beautifully illustrated book brings together a selection of winter tales from all around the world – from North America to Siberia, China to Scotland.
Excerpt: ‘He flew and he flew, from branch to branch, oak and ash and thorn, until he reached the grey stone castle of the king. There he perched upon the windowsill of the king’s bedchamber. But in the ivy underneath the window ledge, someone was already singing! Someone round and brown with an upright tail; little Jenny Wren. The robin greeted the wren politely with a nod and a bow.’
I felt like a kid again as I flipped through the glossy, colorful pages on Christmas morning. I was already familiar with a few stories (The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker, The White Bear King, and The Snow Maiden), but others were entirely new to me. My favorites are Wee Robin Red Breast, The Little Black Cat, and Rabbit’s Gift. This is the perfect collection to read aloud during the long winter nights.
Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin
From the publisher: Snow and Rose were two sisters, as different as night and day. they lived in the woods, but it hadn’t always been so… Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants. Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon. But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow. This is their story, and the story of the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells. Snow & Rose is the reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale “Snow White and Rose Red.”
Excerpt: ‘The bear stayed in his place near the fire. Snow bandaged his leg in clean rags each day. He seemed to grow stronger, even though he slept for all but a few hours each day. The kittens began to venture closer to his giant paws, inching forward before skittering away, back to their mother. The whole family watched him, hoping he would stay tame and safe, hoping he would get better.’
This charmingly illustrated chapter book celebrates the beauty of living a simple life close to nature. It features shapeshifting animals, underground houses, and a unique library of found items. If you long for woodland adventures, Snow & Rose is the perfect remedy for the hustle and bustle of city life. And the universal themes of kindness, family, and gratitude is sure to warm your heart on even the coldest of days.
The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher
From the publisher: When orphaned Seren Rhys boards a train to Wales, the only magic she hopes to find is that of a family. But when a mysterious package containing a bad-tempered clockwork crow ends up in her care, Seren realizes that nothing at Plas-y-Fran will be quite as she’d hoped. Tomos, her guardians’ son, is nowhere to be found, and the few servants who now keep the empty manor house running whisper tales of the Fair Family – the Fae – who take children from what was once Their land. With the Clockwork Crow at her side, Seren must rescue Tomos and reunite her new family before the Fae keep him trapped in Their chilling, magical world forever.
Excerpt: ‘Most of all, she wanted to find the gardens, and she came to them at last through an arch in an old brick wall. The flower beds were bare and frosted, the trees leafless. But the snowfall had turned everything white; every grass blade and crisp leaf was outlined in a fine fur of crystals. She took her gloves off and touched them; she ran over the grass and made crunchy footprints. Gates were frozen open, and everywhere birds were singing, as if they had to hurry because the hours of daylight were so few.’
If I have one weakness when it comes to popular tropes, it’s gloomy, neglected manor houses full of secrets. Some of the most iconic scenes in children’s literature have taken place at British estates (ex: Lucy Pevensie discovering the magic wardrobe during a game of hide-and-seek; Mary Lennox wandering the corridors of Misselthwaite Manor and finding her sickly cousin Colin). The Clockwork Crow follows in their illustrious footsteps, but it adds something new by combining steampunk elements with Welsh folklore. The best part? There are two more books in the series to enjoy!
Do you like listening to instrumental music while you read? Chronicles of Narnia: Peaceful Winter Woods by Ambient Worlds is a particular favorite of mine. Or perhaps you’d prefer the homely sound of a crackling fireplace? In that case, Cozy Winter Ambience by New Bliss is just the ticket. Happy reading!