In December of 2010, the rarest of celestial events occurred, a total eclipse of the moon on Winter Solstice.

The Longest, Darkest Night! tells the story of that night; the magic and mystery, through the eyes and voices of a community of nocturnal forest animals. The wonders of nature, celestial cycles, and the “humanness” of animals are part of this modern folktale. Fear of the unknown, collaboration, generosity, and the wisdom of the elders are underlying themes. Original music and sound effects accompany the narrator and small cast, as the story unfolds and our forest community gathers to celebrate Winter Solstice, which is interrupted by a Lunar eclipse. At first, the moon appears to have a bite taken out, over time she goes completely dark. The trees loose their moon-shadows altogether. What is going to happen? The moon turns orange, then red. Everyone is scared. Clues to the story are nicely snuggled into the enchanting illustrations.

Finally, nearly overcome by fear, the animals hear the wind-whispers of Grandfather Cedar and they are reassured. As they share this magical moment, the animals begin singing the Song of Solstice, YOU can sing along!! Together we all look forward to brighter days ahead. In the end, the critters remind themselves, “Things usually go better when we listen to our elders. Their wisdom is our strength.”

Target audience: The Longest, Darkest Night is for preschoolers through third graders. The peer-reviewed book also fits into early elementary school STEM and STREAM curriculum in science.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.