The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature's Rhythms

By Fiona Cook

A beautifully illustrated, interactive guide to ancient, nature-based holidays and customs. Through themed meditations, crafts, and rituals, young readers can learn about old and new ways of honoring the seasons--and create their own

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND KIRKUS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF 2023

"This book is, in a word, immaculate."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Blending nature connection with art, poetry, and myth, The Wheel of the Year conveys the magic and beauty of ancient traditions and encourages young family members to notice, care for, and celebrate the natural world around them. A thoughtful reference and gift book suitable for either leisure reading or homeschooling, it is geared toward younger readers but enjoyable for those of all ages seeking a deeper connection to nature's traditions.

Each "spoke" in The Wheel of the Year marks an important turning point: the winter and summer solstices, the spring and fall equinoxes, and the festivals of seeding, growing, and harvesting that arrive in between. Within each section, enjoy:
An overview of the holiday and its significance in cultures around the worldA sensory scavenger hunt for sights, sounds, and smells the seasonIdeas for a seasonal altar using objects from natureThemed crafts, rituals, games, and recipes

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1524874809
• ISBN13: 9781524874803
• Release Date: October 2023
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.1" x 10.1"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

nice book

good book for pagan families. has plenty of information on sabbats and esbats on the wheel of the year, though i didnt find the name "litha" mentioned in the midsummer section of the book and the spelling for lughnasadh was different than i wouldve done it. i, a 22 yr old childless man, was also unaware the book was geared towards kids (not toddlers, this should be enjoyed by a higher grade school child who can be trusted with wandering around the yard with or withour adult supervision or a child who will understand reading it with a parent explaining it to them) and bought it at a local bookstore. however, still a very pretty book with plenty of activities and information for each solstice, equinox, and everything in between (even included information about carnival and mentiones mardi gras in the imbolc section!). i recommend for parents who follow the wheel of the year and want to introduce it to their children or who have already raised their children at a younger age to celebrate and have decided that their child is old enough to understand the deeper parts of holidays other than "its what we do at this time of the year".

Ended up being a kids book

This book is so pretty. However I wished I had looked into it more before I bought it. It's geared towards elementary age kids.