Beginnings and endings, with a party in between

By Susan Townley

Now is the time when the sun is lower in the sky and we anticipate the end of this year and the beginning of the next. Sometimes we are in such a hurry this time of year that we miss many simple but special moments. Reading a thoughtful book can be a way to slow down the world for a few minutes.

While contemplating beginnings and endings, I came across some seasonal books, new books, a few not-so-new books and some favourite books. One of my absolute favourite celebrations is the winter solstice. At my house, our winter solstice open house was the last big celebration with family and friends before the pandemic. The memories of candles lit, stories told and food and drink shared have kept my heart warmed with hope and anticipation of when that event may happen again.

In 2019, Newbery Medal winner Susan Cooper published The Shortest Day, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Carson Ellis. This book has become one of my favourite seasonal reads for adults and children alike. The fanciful, energetic illustrations evoke the joy and community found in the universal celebration of the light festivals that occur at this time of the year when the dark nights are longest. Cooper’s poem captures the magic of the returning light, the ongoing mystery of life and the celebration of rebirth. This book evokes the sense of wonder that people have felt for nature, the earth and the seasons throughout time and has a universal message of hope and anticipation that holds true at this time of darkness.

Available soon at the library is a brand-new picture book by Megan Litwin, Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night. It is a winter rendition of the nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star that explores the many sources of light that illuminate the darkness at this time of year. Whether it is the moon in a cool sky, the flickering candles in a neighbour’s window or the dazzling lights strung up about town, winter is a time of glowing warmth and cozy closeness. Nneka Myers’ illustrations capture Kwanzaa candles, a menorah, a Diwali lamp and Christmas lights illuminating the celebration of winter holidays. There is no mention of specific holidays. This story is more a celebration of the many lights of winter.

This time of year is filled with holidays and celebrations and there is a beautiful new book on that exact subject by Caron Brown and Ipek Konak. Holidays & Celebrations is a wonderful introduction to the world’s celebrations. Filled with easy-to-understand facts, it is accompanied by a fun shine-through mechanism. Like other entries in the Shine-a-Light series, most of the illustrations are backed with white areas and printed on a solid black background so that holding the coloured pages up to a light reveals hidden details.

Seasonal excitement can sometimes be just too much for children. Things That Go Away by Beatrice Alemagna reminds children that life is about change and transition and that exciting moments inevitably lead to quieter moments. This artfully designed book is about change, beginning and endings, the circle of life. Time slows when reading this book, reminding us to take time to pause and stay in the moment more.

As I draw to the end of this article, I think of a quote from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” After more than 35 years of working at Sunnyside Branch, my time here has come to an end. I started at Sunnyside soon after its renovation in the mid-1980s. I loved the neighbourhood so much that I quickly decided to make it my home, moving first to the Glebe and then Old Ottawa South. I have enjoyed the luxury of walking to work every day. It has been a joy to work in the Children’s department for so many years and to see multiple generations come to programs. Organizing so many programs, celebrations and events have made my days at the library seem like always being at a party. Despite being sad to say goodbye, I feel as if I am not really leaving, since I will see you all in the streets, parks and stores of our wonderful neighbourhood. Thank you so much for making it so hard to say goodbye.

Susan Townley has loved to sing, dance and have fun in the Children’s Department of the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library for 35 years. Her time at the library is drawing to a close, but she will still be seen out and about in the neighbourhood.