Just Us

What happens to the holidays when a storm keeps the relatives away? In this picture book there is no Grandma, no aunts, no uncles, and no cousins, and the family is left wondering how it can feel like a holiday without everyone together.

The family decides to adapt its traditions to a smaller scale. They cook a more manageable stew for dinner, go for a hike in the snow, and play cards in place of rowdy rounds of charades. Along the way they deal with their disappointment through mindfulness and gratitude, building new traditions while accepting that it is fine to miss the old ones.

The story is meant to offer comfort and warmth during a season when many families need it most.