Summer: A Solstice Story + interview with Kelsey E. Gross + a GIVEAWAY!

Okay, before I say ANYTHING, can we just look at this GORGEOUS cover??? I mean, seriously?? I think Renata Liwksa is an incredible illustrator… But EQUALLY incredible is author Kelsey E. Gross who wrote the GORGEOUS words for this GORGEOUS book (I think the word of the day may be “gorgeous”!)

I first met Kelsey via Zoom when she won an Ask Me Anything call as a prize in Susanna Hill’s 2022 holiday contest. I could tell right away that Kelsey had a special something and I was BLOWN away once I read her debut, Winter: A Solstice Story, illustrated by Renata Liwska, which released in Oct. 2023 with S&S/Paula Wiseman Books. When I saw that Kelsey had a sequel, I knew I had to find out more about how these beautiful books came to be. We are so lucky that Kelsey is here to chat with us today on Picture Book Builders! Let’s dig into the interview, shall we?

RGL: Hi Kelsey, thanks for joining us!

As a kid (and even as a grown-up) I have to admit I don’t think either the winter or summer solstice was ever on my radar. Did you always have a fascination with the solstices (solsti?)? When/how did you realize that the shortest and longest days of the year would make great fodder for children’s books?

KEG: Hi Rebecca, so great to be here! Like you, I didn’t celebrate solstices as a kid. But I grew up in Wisconsin where we had four distinct seasons, and I loved marking those changes. To me, it feels like every year has four fresh starts!

As an adult, I became aware of solstice traditions through my sister-in-law, who celebrates her birthday on the winter solstice. After doing some research, I was fascinated to learn how winter and summer solstices are celebrated by cultures around the world and have been for a VERY long time! I discovered there weren’t many children’s books on the topic, and as a former preschool teacher, I knew there was a need for holiday books that are not connected to a religious holiday. 

Across cultures, solstice celebrations commonly include gathering with family and friends, lighting candles or fires, music, storytelling, gifts, and food. Winter solstice celebrations often emphasize hope in a dark time, and many summer solstice traditions focus on gratitude for nature’s bounty and the sun, and wishes for health and prosperity. I view these themes as universal and worth sharing with children. 

RGL: I just read in Publisher’s Weekly that you and Renata will have a THIRD book coming out in this series entitled Fall: A Friendship Story, with all the same characters! CONGRATS! Did you originally pitch the solstice books as a 2 (or 3!) book series? And, if not, how/when did the idea for the other books come about?

KEG: After Winter: A Solstice Story came out, one of my critique partners suggested I do a follow-up summer book. I’m so grateful – at that point, it hadn’t occurred to me! Initially I wrote a draft of Summer for fun, without even mentioning it to my agent or editor. Luckily, both liked the concept, and my editor had a vision for “The Solstice Series.” 

I drafted a spring story next, but my editor suggested I switch gears and try writing a fall story instead. I was so happy she decided to acquire it! We’re not using the word “equinox” (though that is the technical term for the start of fall). Instead, this book will be more of a general celebration of the fall season.

RGL: As you know, I’m a huge fan of rhyme and lyrical prose and both this book, and your first book, Winter: A Solstice Story, weave those two together so masterfully. Anyone looking for a mentor text with examples of how to use poetic tools like assonance, consonance, alliteration, slant rhyme, and internal rhyme, needs to check out this book. It is CHOCK FULL of gorgeous lines. Can you give us a little peek into your writing process and choices for these books? For example, why did you decide to create a rhyming refrain and keep everything else in lyrical prose? 

KEG: Thank you for the generous compliment! 

When I was drafting Winter, I wanted Owl (the main character) to be the wise leader who brought everyone together and for his words to have extra emphasis. To do this, I decided to try rhyme. I initially came up with the line, “Whoo can help to shine the light?” From there, it seemed natural to add, “and share a gift of hope this night.” Soon I was off and running with a rhyming Owl! 

However, rhyme felt too limiting when it came to describing the setting and moving the story along. I wanted freedom to paint vivid winter scenes and make the narration as warm and heartfelt as possible. In short, the rest of the text seemed richer in lyrical prose. I knew it wasn’t a common approach, but I thought, “why not try it?” My critique partners’ reactions were positive, so I stuck with it. 

As for poetic devices, I think it’s a fun challenge to use different tools to make the text as beautiful as possible. It’s also fun to play with interesting word choices and introduce new words for kids to learn. I highly recommend Renée LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab. I learned so much from taking the course!  

RGL: Oh, yes. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a HUGE fan of Renée and her class! I also love that your two books are clearly connected with the same characters and illustrator, and similar refrains, and yet each very much has their own story. Was it difficult to find a fresh new spin on the solstice story but yet also keep the same “feel” for both books? (I’m also super curious about how you will strike this balance with your fall book, since it won’t be about a solstice. If you can offer any sneak peek, that would be awesome, but if you can’t I totally understand!)

KEG: It was a challenge! I wanted to keep a consistent structure for the second book by having each animal bring something to share as they celebrated the new season. But I needed a different focus and takeaway message. 

I researched what real animals do in the summertime and learned that many spring babies start to explore or even leave their families around the solstice. Suddenly I had the perfect theme for Summer: older animals could offer gifts for their young before sending them out into the world. 

For Fall, I followed the same strategy of brainstorming what might be happening in the natural world. In this story, the animals come together to help a tired monarch as she rests before continuing her migration journey. It has themes of friendship and helping, and classic fall scenes with colorful leaves, pumpkins, and hay bales. I can’t wait to see Renata’s gorgeous illustrations!

RGL: Lastly, my favorite question to ask my guests: What is one question no one has yet to ask you about the making of this book that you would love to answer? (And what’s the answer? 🙂  

KEG: How did the Summer manuscript change during the editing process? 

Originally, I had a human child in the final spread. I imagined a toddler exploring independently and finding berries the animals left behind, while grown-ups looked on from a distance. I thought it could echo the young animals’ send-off.  However, my editor suggested keeping the book firmly in the animals’ magical world, just as we did for Winter. I think it worked beautifully (especially with the magic of Renata’s illustrations!). But it is an image I keep in the back of my mind as I share the book at storytimes. I let kids know that just like the young animals, whenever they have to say goodbye and leave their loved ones, even for a short time like a school day, they’ll always be in their loved ones’ hearts. And, they too shine bright and can spread love in the world. 

RGL: Aww, I love that so much. Thank you for stopping by and sharing all this with PBB readers, Kelsey!

And yes, there IS a giveaway! Kelsey has very generously offered to giveaway EITHER a signed copy of Summer: A Solstice Story (U.S. addresses only) or a PB critique under 700 words. Simply comment on this post to enter and I will announce the winner in my next post (scheduled for Aug. 13!)

Kelsey’s Bio:

Kelsey E. Gross grew up in Wisconsin and lived in New Mexico and California before returning to the Midwest. She now lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her family. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking or skiing in the woods. She is the author of Winter: A Solstice Story, also illustrated by Renata Liwska. Find her online at kelseyegross.com, on Instagram, or Twitter.