Winter Holiday — Arthur Ransome

New friends, a blizzard, a frozen lake, and a case of the mumps make one grand wintertime adventure for a group of children in this classic series.

The Ds (Dick and Dorothea) meet the Swallows and Amazons during the winter beside the lake and they all become great friends: joining together in ice skating, learning semaphore signals, refashioning an igloo, and building an ice sled. But a misunderstanding leads to disaster as Dick and Dorothea head off across the frozen lake to a spot they have named the “North Pole.” And, Nancy, the Amazon leader, meanwhile is stuck at home with mumps . . .

Friendship and resourcefulness, dangers and rescues: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Winter Holiday (originally published in 1933) is the fourth title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.

“The story is the best kind of adventure story . . . Every step is possible, and everyone is transmuted into romance by deliberate purpose. Nothing that the children do is beyond the reach of a group provided that winter, a frozen lake, and mumps connive to perfect adventure.” -- Observer (UK)