A Time to Keep

by Tasha Tudor

Describes traditional holiday celebrations throughout the year in a New England household.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christmas, Holiday, Art, Fiction, Poetry

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Tasha Tudor was an American illustrator and author of children's books.

Reviews

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Heaven will be like this book. :)

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively darling! I give this six brilliant stars.

I love everything about this book! The monthly/seasonal pages, highlighting the charms that month holds. The quotes, the family scenes of love and tradition (I want to make a Washington Cake and have a marionette show in a barn!),… and need I even mention the illustrations? No, it’s a given. They’re Tudor’s; enough said.

This book has further inspired a dream I have to some day publish a (slightly similar) book. If only Tudor could illustrate it for me.

A delightful book that everyone should own!

Ages: 3 - 111

Content Considerations: a couple pictures with boys/men without shirts. A couple pictures of Halloween - nothing too scary.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing Around the Year made me realize I've never reviewed this book. One of my favorite Tudor picture books. It's the closest thing to a picture book version of The Private World of Tasha Tudor. Splendid.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children and I enjoyed this look through the major holidays of a year in a small farming community "back in the day," simply introduced on the first page as "when Mommy was me" (not sure the exact era, but looks to be a bit more modern and well-off than the typical pioneer narrative). And of course, I enjoyed Tasha Tudor's artwork too.

It's fun to see depictions of holidays that are not celebrated as much anymore (at least not around here) -- Washington's Birthday, Twelfth Night, May Day, St. Nicholas's Birthday, as well as more familiar ones like July 4th, Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. It's interspersed with glimpses of other seasonal aspects of farming -- planting a garden, maple sugaring time, harvest, etc. I might even say it idealizes farm life a little bit, though I suppose it's inevitable that a book about holidays would primarily be a "highlight reel," no matter the era.

While there are adults present, much of this is presented through the eyes of children -- playing with their dolls, putting on puppet shows, and finding their own ways to make holidays special. Definitely a fun look at one particular era of the not-so-distant past, as well as a celebration of the many times to look forward to over the course of one year.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my husband's favorite books as a child and I just read it to my daughter having never read it before. It was sweet, but mostly it made me really sad that life isn't like that anymore. Not that I ever experienced it as such, but it is portrayed as a "simpler" time and life itself seemed so self sustaining and meaningful. These days it seems like we live hand to mouth and everything just costs money. Rather than have this turn into a socio-political economic rant, I will just leave it at that.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't what I expected ... it's better. Here Tasha Tudor celebrates the entire year, with month-by-month descriptions of the things her own children did, not only on the holidays, but also seasonal events. The words are sparse; the art fills in the details.

What I found most intriguing is her daughter's birthday celebration when, after a picnic dinner, "the birthday cake came floating down the river" with candles aglow.

Then, on Thanksgiving when the relatives had come to visit, they put on plays and "and had a literary contest with a handsome book for first prize." That would have been fun! Why didn't I think about doing that when the kids were younger?

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures as usual from Tasha Tudor and beautiful traditions as well in this book that tells of old-fashioned holiday celebrations throughout the year.

[Kathryn]

get '70s edition for best colors.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite illustrators! There is such sweetness and innocence in her pictures and so much detail. This book inspires me to do some of the fun things they did long ago..krb 12/9/16

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a darling, sweet book, full of lovely illustrations showing a snippet into Tasha Tudors world. My children enjoyed it along with myself.

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one even though it is very traditional, a bit Americana, and kind of old-ladyish. I definitely have a soft spot for stories about idealized times, childhood, traditions, things that give you that cozy feeling.

However I wish wish WISH this book had managed to be an older story without something super racist in it. Alas, right on one of the earliest pages are two of the kids dressed in completely stereotypical portrayals of indigenous people, which was so unnecessary and though very "of the time" gives the whole thing a hateful edge. I used it as a moment to talk about negative representations of non-white characters, comparing this portrayal with what my daughter had seen in books like Fry Bread, and talking about how some people used to think this portrayal was ok but it's not. But she's three, so I'm not sure what sank in.

The rest of the book has lots of sweet childhood moments of the past in it, and made me think a lot about childhood traditions that stay with you until you're an adult. Love the idea of different things you do each month as a way to mark the passing of time through the year. A bit like Chicken Soup with Rice or A Child's Calendar in that way.

All in all, if you're willing to have a conversation with your kid about how things can have good qualities and deeply problematic qualities at the same time, this is worth a read, but probably not a purchase that would have it be part of your home library.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful trip through the seasons, the way Tasha Tudor celebrated them with her children. Beautiful full-page watercolor illustrations complete with lovely intricate borders Ms. Tudor was so fond of creating. Another wonderful example of her work.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this over the course of the year, the beginning of each month. My kids immediately asked me to start over! They kept commenting on how fun many of the things the family did through the year looked.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life should be lived in joyful celebration. Tasha shows us how to do just that in this simply profound book.

[Nicole Faires · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books ever written. Okay, maybe not but it is magical and wonderful anyway.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book for children and adults.

[Ashley Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received “A Time to Keep” by Tasha Tudor in the mail today, and even though it got lost in the mail for a couple days, it was absolutely worth the wait. 💫🎂🪿✨I am enchanted by every single page of this book. Having owned a few of Tasha Tudor’s books as a child, this one feels like a beautiful summary of all her works combined. The book takes us through each month of the year, recounting to her granddaughter what life was like when her mother was a child. The illustrations are my all-time favorite, capturing everything I love about Tasha Tudor and more. It is incredibly magical, and I can’t wait for my daughter to grow up with this book. I’m certain it will become one of our family’s most cherished and beloved books.🌾🌿🌸

[Rachel Behrends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with full color on large pages. Tasha Tudor is always a delight. We loved learning about her family traditions and reading the quotes for each month (they would be wonderful for recitation or copywork). This is written in prose while "Around the Year" is verse with smaller illustrations, half of which are in black and white. We love both books. There is mention of dancing around a maypole and celebrating Halloween. Depending on what you as a parent believes to be in keeping with Christian practices and if your child is mature enough to have any discussion on such topics, it may want to be avoided for those reasons.

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book to look back over the older days and how they used to interact with the seasons and months! Her illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the intricate details are incredible. My favorite are the corgis and cats in lots of the pages ☺️

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated and written children’s book about celebrating and enjoying the seasons. Tasha Tudor’s warm, comforting and sweet drawings never fail to bring me joy. This book was given to me by a wonderful friend, so it means even more to me 💕

[Anna Sangrey Roussel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, Tasha Tudor is a favorite. Can I make that more apparent? This book follows the months of the year, spilling lovely illustrations over two-page spreads of well-known and not as well-known holidays for each month.

A lovely, large picture book to be read monthly with whimsical ideas and creativity for celebrations in the midst of the norm. A beautiful holidays and traditions idea guide.

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlessly magical.

[Emily VanNess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor is a children's book about holiday traditions through the eyes of a young girl. These traditions are not your typical Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. One of the traditions is the young girls mothers birthday. They always have a candlelit dinner out in the woods, and when they are finished eating they put their candles on little boats and float them down the river. Once the last boat goes out of sight a cake floats in on another little boat for the mother. As a society some traditions can all be very alike and this book is able to give readers insight into traditions that may not be so practical to others but even more meaningful. The author tells the tale as if she was the little girl in the book and is telling these stories with even the most intricate detail that would change the mood of the story. The whole book gives a very heartwarming feel and would work very well for lower-level readers. Children getting an early view of this concept can help them understand diversity in a simple way.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beloved children's author/illustrator Tasha Tudor describes celebrations of holidays in the past, going through the year chronologically. I read this to my granddaughter (4) and she loved it. She is especially enchanted (as am I) with the idea of birthday parties outdoors complete with cakes topped with candles, floating down a creek to the picnic site. The two-page illustration of this captures the imagination. Treat yourself.

[Brooke Kinabrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful illustrations and a sweet walk through the seasons as a little girl listens to her a Grandmother share about what it was like when her mum was her age. The boys and I love reading it together. It’s a feast for the eyes as it goes from January to December sharing so many fun family traditions.

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The memories and family traditions that Tasha illustrates are the same ones that my mother told me she did when she was a little girl in the 1930's. Everything except the lighting of the cake and floating it in the water. Never heard of that one before. I love Tasha's illustrations. She packs so much detail into a page! You can spend a lot of time with this book, and one should.

[Sparrows at Home · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated tribute to "the olden days". My children and I loved seeing how simple, magical, and family-centered the holidays used to be.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An oversize 'parlor gift book.' Not much more. Some of the customs are interesting, but very likely unique to this family or community culture.

[Lucy Lacefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly whimsical, sweet and joyous for all readers!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children’s books ever. Every page is a charming, magical treasure.