For 25 years, beginning in 1887, Captain Herman Schuenemann cut evergreens to load in a ship he then sailed south on Lake Michigan from Manistique, Michigan, to Chicago. In 1912, a bottle washed up on the Wisconsin shore containing Captain Herman's message to his wife Hannah and their girls about a storm's severity, confirming his death and the loss of the ship. For 22 more years, Hannah Schuenemann and her three daughters continued to sail to Chicago bringing trees in time for Christmas. Based on a true event and real people, a relatively small (9 1/4 x 8 3/4") full-color picture book briefly relays this amazing piece of Great Lakes history. (Ages 5-9)

"A refreshing and unpretentious story...Winter relates the tale of a young schooner captain who traveled treacherous Lake Michigan each year at Christmas to supply Chicagoans with spruce trees for their holiday celebrations. When his boat was lost during one particularly bad winter, his wife and family chose to honor his memory and celebrate the holiday by continuing the tradition he started." -- "Booklist" "Winter gives the holiday its due magic." -- "The Bulletin" of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) "A touching and memorable tale." -- "Publishers Weekly" (starred review)