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Winter's Gift
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By Jane Monroe Donovan
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 (27 Reviews)
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List Price: $16.95
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Our Price: $11.53 Fee Shipping on orders totaling $25.00 and over. Details
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Availability:
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Usually ships in 24 hours
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Publisher:
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Sleeping Bear Press
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Date:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Hardcover
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Pages:
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32
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Illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan It may be Christmastime but on a small, forlorn farm the holiday season is best forgotten, along with painful memories of loved ones lost. Mother Nature has other plans, however, and a chance snowstorm brings together two unlikely hearts, one human and one beast, yet both yearning for comfort, companionship, and that most elusive gift of all, hope. This lustrous jewel of a story, quietly told and perfectly complemented by soft, evocative paintings, reminds even the most cynical of readers that the heart indeed can recover and go on. Jane Monroe Donovan's parents encouraged her to follow her heart and it led to her love of sketching and painting. Her affection for animals is reflected in much of her subject matter. Jane makes her home in Pinckney, Michigan, with her husband Bruce and their two sons, Ryan and Joey. Other members of their family include their two dogs, Belle and Grizzly, a Siamese cat named Maylee, and their two horses, Ameera and Cherokee Rose. In addition to Winter's Gift, Jane has also illustrated three other titles for Sleeping Bear Press: My Teacher Likes to Say; My Momma Likes to Say; and Sunny Numbers: A Florida Counting Book. (20041212)
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Customers' Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
 Exquisite Holiday Story for All, November 18, 2004
By Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA)
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Christmastime may be designated as the happiest time of the year. Filled with singing, eating, visiting, giving and receiving presents, and so much more. But on a small farm, the holiday season is best forgotten, as it brings along nothing more than painful memories of lost loved ones. However, Mother Nature has very different plans, for a terrible snowstorm brings together two broken hearts, one of a man who lost his wife, and one of a horse, separated from her herd, and gives them what they both want most for the holiday, companionship.
When I first saw WINTER'S GIFT, I was quite sure whether it was a holiday story or not. But the illustration of the horse in the snowstorm on the cover, quickly made me realize that I wanted the book, even if it wasn't a holiday story. However, upon opening WINTER'S GIFT, I found that it was a holiday story, and a lovely one at that. The lovely prose, and gorgeous illustrations, both done by Jane Monroe Donovan, are exquisite, and will bring hope into the lives of everyone who reads this story during the holiday season. A must have!
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
37 of 37 people found this review helpful
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A Wonderful Christmas Story, June 14, 2005
By book review editor (Marietta, GA USA)
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This is a heartwarming story of an elderly man and also of a mare lost in a winter snowstorm. For every previous Christmas the man and his wife had gone to the woods nearby and picked out the perfect Christmas tree. They would then take the tree back to their home and decorate it, but the crowning glory of each tree would be when she placed the star on it. He had lost his wife the previous spring and this was his first Christmas alone. He had not gone to pick out a tree because he had lost heart after his loss.
At the same time a mare had become separated from her herd of wild horses and was wandering in the storm trying to find shelter. She could hear wolves howling in the distance and she was frightened and alone. She came to the old man's home and he heard her outside and took her into his barn, fed her and dried her off. He drifted off to sleep in his barn that Christmas Eve, but when he awoke he found he had been given an unexpected gift. I won't spoil things by giving you the ending, but it made my wife Sharon and me a little teary eyed. This is an ideal Christmas present for anyone you know that cherishes the Christmas spirit as we do. Keep a copy for yourself, but be sure and buy enough to give to those you love.
30 of 30 people found this review helpful
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 The Horse Who Saved Christmas, March 8, 2005
By Livingston Parent Journal (Fowlerville, MI United States)
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"Finally, when the tree was just right, his wife would take out a wooden box that held a beautiful star.
` The star is the most important part of the tree', she would always say. `It's a symbol of hope, and no matter how bad things get, you should always have hope.'
But the old man didn't have hope anymore. He had lost his wife in the spring and was alone. This year there would be no Christmas tree, no Christmas star."
An old man spends Christmas alone in his isolated cabin in the woods north of an unnamed small town during a terrible blizzard. At the risk of being trite, it was a dark and stormy night.
Not far from the cabin a mare wanders alone through the woods. She has fallen behind the herd and gotten lost. She has never been alone before. Wolves howl.
The old man and the horse end up spending Christmas Eve together in the barn, and the lost mare brings the old man a wonderful surprise for Christmas, and a gift of hope.
Winter's Gift is written and illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan, with thanks to her grandparents Glenn and Alberta "for being wonderful models and inspirations".
With words and pictures she sensitively portrays both the anonymous older couple in her book and the equally anonymous horse. Especially memorable is the illustration of the man and his wife decorating their tree together. I also loved the little details like the needlepoint and photograph in the bedroom.
Reading this book together would be a good holiday experience for your family, and could lead to a discussion of what it is like to celebrate the holidays after a family loss.
18 of 28 people found this review helpful
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Simply Beautiful for kids and grownups., December 3, 2004
By Angela ' Wanna be book critic (Windsor ,Ontario, Canada)
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I read this story in a book store and cried a little. What a beautiful story for times such as these A simple reminder that even in the worst of times there is hope. Mother nature bringing two lonely souls together. The drawing are simply flawless. Of course I had to buy it. I plan to read it to my own children someday. Thank you Ms. Donovan for reminding us how important it is to always have hope no matter how hard things can get.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
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Winter's Gift, January 8, 2008
By tlbrooks8
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The story is excellent, I would recommend it to others, in fact..., I have. I so appreciate the fast service and delivery of my book. The book was received new and received in excellent condition.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Exquisite Christmas Eve Book, December 28, 2007
By Dragonfly (New York)
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This book is so well done, I could not finish it without tears. The illustrations are so well done and the story timeless. I sent it to my grand-daughter to be opened Christmas Eve. She and her mother loved it. An excellent choice for a horse lover of any age.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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A wonderful tale of loss and hope, December 15, 2007
By S. Zebolsky (MIchigan, USA)
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What a heartwarming story! Beautiful illustrations, a wonderful tale of loss and hope during the season of hope. My grandsons, aged 3 and 5, loved the story, LOVED the pictures and made me read it twice again after the first reading. You don't need any more endorsement than that.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Winter's Gift, January 12, 2007
By D. Florence (Malvern, PA)
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This is a wonderful Christmas book for children. My kids have been enjoying it for 2 seasons and always look forward to it. I gave it to an adult friend of mine too who needed a little holiday spirit. It sends a great message.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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 Lovely Story, March 20, 2006
By book explorer (Elkmont, AL United States)
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This is a lovely picture book. The illustrations are beautiful. It would be a good addition to a library's Christmas collection.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Great story for kids, November 24, 2006
By Elena (Madison, WI)
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This is a very good story and, although some of the elements could be turned into a "cliche" in other hands, everything works like a charm. I read it to my three year old with some minor adaptations, and he loved it instantly. There is no sugar coating of what a great loss is like, and of what a great danger the mare is in, and therefore the characters are truly very engaging. The illustrations are good specially the snowstorm scenes.
There is drama, action and final joy, the perfect combination for an easy to tell bedtime story.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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GET IT, December 6, 2010
By KJM (MN)
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I just got my copy today. This book has strong beauty.
The story and illustrations are magnificent.
A very special book that will make beautiful gifts.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Beautiful Story of Loss and Hope, October 8, 2010
By campcat
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I am always on the lookout for children's books which deal with death, loss, and griref. This is a beautiful one which does so without being preachy or teachy. It is a story of hope and healing. The pictures are simple but beautiful. I use the story with both children and adults who are grieving. Good holiday gift for someone who is struggling with loss.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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not just for children, November 17, 2007
By just another book lover (northern New York)
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After I read this book, I purchased 4 copies for my siblings as gifts, the Christmas after our mother died and our father was left alone on his farm.
This is a deceptively simple story of hope and love, that touches the heart.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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A beautiful book!!, January 18, 2007
By S. Hochstetler (Oregon)
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This is a wonderful book for young and old alike..a story of hope and love, and best of all, it involves a horse! The illustrations are beautiful.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Wonderful art and story, January 11, 2007
By N. Harrington (Sunnyvale, CA United States)
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What attracted me to this book was the art work. The pictures are realistic and sensitive. When I see the mare walking through the snowstorm, I get cold! The story is very sweet, and the perfect sentiment for Christmas. Wonderful children's book that adults while enjoy.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Very Comforting, December 9, 2010
By Fabulous Finn (Colorado)
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This wonderful book is a much-welcomed antidote to loneliness during the holiday season. It's a simple story of compassion, generosity, and kindness that transcends traditional definitions of family and friends. Recommended for kids and adults, too.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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A Moving Story, December 28, 2010
By Interior Design Student (Chicago, IL USA)
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I saw this book and had to pick it up. There was just something about the illustrations that called to me.
This is a beautiful book with a moving story. Although it has a happy ending--and I don't think I'm giving away too much by saying so--I do wonder if the dual story of the sad, lonely old man and of the horse lost in a storm might not be too depressing for young children. The illustrations of the storm are rendered in dark, greyed neutrals, and I found the images of the bedraggled, despairing horse to be harrowing. I was very interested in the reviews here by those who have children who said their kids loved the tale; perhaps the trials the horse goes through makes the ending all the sweeter.
I do think that one of the strengths of the book is the idea of "hope" as being a gift; there are many Christmas stories that center on the need to give selflessly, the gift of the heart, the gift of oneself and one's talents (i.e. the Little Drummer Boy), the gift of family and of love, but I don't think I've actually seen a Christmas book so explicitly about hope. Implicit parallels with another Christmas birth in a manger, along with the cycle-of-life theme of death and birth, make this a complex and original story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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A pleasant surprise., December 18, 2010
By mom23
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This book is a favorite during the Advent season at our house. My 6 year-old repeatedly requests this book. The illustrations are gorgeous, the story is heartwarming and the message meaningful. I love the part about how the star represents hope. It leaves room to discuss the star that appeared that first Christmas night and the hope that came with the gift of all gifts that first Christmas!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Story of Hope, November 3, 2010
By Darly
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The pictures are great and draw you into the story. The story itself is one of loss and being lost. Getting found and getting hope. It is wonderful. There is hope after loss. And who better to show us than a horse?
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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The Hope of Christmas..., November 20, 2009
By D. S. Thurlow (Alaska)
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"Winter's Gift", written and illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan, starts off with a small town under a blanket of snow on Christmas Eve and an old man getting ready for his first Christmas alone since the death of his wife. He doesn't expect much, but fate has something in store for him...
This short story is perfectly suited for young children. The text is short and easy to read while the softly done illustrations really make the story. "Winter's Gift" is highly recommended for those with children or grandchildren old enough to appreciate Christmas as the annual small miracle that it is.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Winter's Gift, January 13, 2009
By M. Warnberg (Vista, CA USA)
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Warms your heart. My 8 year old grandson read it to his 4 year old sister. They both enjoyed the book and continue to re-read it - sometimes together, sometimes I read it to them. Lovely heartfelt story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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A Gift of a Book!, January 12, 2009
By The ESOL Teacher (Webster, NY United States)
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This is a sad beautiful about an lonely man after his wife dies and mare who is without shelter. A blizzard occurs on Christmas Eve and a lonely old man notices the mare's distress. A new relationship develops and it benefits all. A warm hearted story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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A wonderful book for all ages, January 3, 2007
By P. Ingrassia (Long Island, NY)
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When I picked this book up, I thought it was a children's book. After reading the first few pages, I realized that the story was timeless, and for all ages. Wonderful illustrations. I had intended to buy it for my daughter, and ended up purchasing a couple of copies.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Pleased!, January 7, 2009
By M. Hobbs (Garberville, CA United States)
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I thought it was a great book and lended a wonderful message to the holiday season.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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I love this book!, June 15, 2011
By MickeyB
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I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas when it first came out. I read it while standing in the book store and loved it instantly. It's beautifully illustrated and the story is sad and hopeful at the same time. Loss will be a part of every child's life and it is wonderful when a book can show that even in loss, there is always the promise of love.
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Perfect Children's Book, May 23, 2011
By Desert Dweller (Rancho Mirage, CA United States)
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How lovely to read a simply told and beautifully illustrated children's book. There is nothing commercial about this book, nothing planned by the PR people to make it fancy and salable as often happens in the large publishing houses. It is left alone, and it's natural and it's so refreshing to read something so pure.
An old man lives alone on the edge of the woods and is a widower. A wild mare gets lost from its herd. It is almost Christmastime, very cold and snowy, with a dismal outlook for both mare and man.
The illustrations are very striking, the text is well crafted, simple and the words are well chosen. What a perfect Christmas gift for any child. Above all, it is a message of hope.
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Horse crazy daughter, December 5, 2008
By Mom-2-Five (Minnesota)
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My daughter is horse crazy. Each year we get her a Christmas book. This has been a wonderful addition to our collection. Full of meaning...life's experiences...hardships...hopes...a traditional Christmas tale. Wonderful!!!
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