Book Synopsis

A gorgeously illustrated and magical original fairy tale celebrating the seasons, heralded as one of the best children's books of the year by the Telegraph and New Statesman!

The beautiful story of the seasons gathering to revel in the magic of the natural world, adapted from a rediscovered work by a Jewish author during World War II.

It's King Winter's birthday, and he wants it to be really special. He wants all of his brothers and sisters to be there: King Summer, Queen Spring and Queen Autumn. But the leaves and the trees whisper a warning, and as the four play magical games, something strange begins to happen outside.

This timeless fairy tale perfect for young readers aged 4-8 is a celebration of nature's rhythms, and of a chaotic world restored to order. As the weather outside is sent into an extraordinary mix-up, King Winter and his siblings realize that even though we cannot always be with the ones we love in the same place, at the same time, our memories of time spent together will keep us warm.

Magical and heartwarming, this tale was adapted from an unpublished story by Jewish author Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, author of The Passenger, which he wrote while interned during the war. Brought to life with Jonathan Freeland's lyrical narration and lush, full-color illustrations from acclaimed picture book artist Emily Sutton, this unique fairy tale of the four seasons and a demanding birthday boy has laid undiscovered for decades - until now.

Review Quotes

"A modern fairy tale that speaks to our unsettled times."
--Kirkus

About the Author

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and the presenter of BBC Radio 4's contemporary history series, The Long View and host of the podcast Unholy. He is the author of twelve books, the latest being The Escape Artist. He has written nine thrillers, mostly as Sam Bourne, including The Righteous Men, a Sunday Times number one bestseller.

Emily Sutton is an artist and illustrator based in York, England. She has worked on numerous picture books, including The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy, as well as Tiny, Lots, Many and Grow by author Nicola Davies. Her illustrated edition of Shakespeare's First Folio is published in April 2024.