A celebration of the winter solstice and the Yuletide season. As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind...

Owl and his friends gather up gifts of hope from the woodlands to help shine the light on the longest night of the year.

On a visit to Ireland, twin sisters are lured into the "Otherworld" where a dangerous enchantment threatens to separate them.

"The Winter Solstice Grand Tournament is fast approaching, and Bea Black is ready to shine! Determined to prove herself, she's spending more time practicing magic and less time with her best friend, Ash. He's not happy about it and suspects something is up. Will she be able to continue to keep her magic a secret from him? Features black-and-white illustrations throughout."--