For Oliver, winter often feels like a long cold pause on everything he loves. He spends the gray days grumpily sitting indoors, dreaming of tending to his lovely garden under the summer sun. One day Oliver begrudgingly ventures out into the dull winter day and runs into Frederick, his spirited younger neighbor, who–unlike Oliver–loves winter. Although Oliver prefers to spend his days alone detesting the season around him, Frederick insists on joining him on his walk. During this adventure Oliver sees the world through Frederick’s eyes, encountering moments of joy and beauty that give him a new perspective on winter.

Oliver in Winter is inspired by my own experiences during the change of seasons and the heavy emotions that winter can often bring. As the sun slips away at 4pm and the temperatures dip below freezing, I find myself retreating further inward and being less open to new opportunities. My days become filled with thoughts of summer and spending long sun-filled days outdoors. However, I’ve realized it’s important to recognize that each season brings something new and magical. I wanted to create a story that helps people embrace and celebrate winter, as well as capture the shift of perspective and focus on appreciating what is in the present. While creating this book, I have found myself connecting with the small moments and joys that winter brings and relating more to Frederick than Oliver.