Christmas Picture Books 2021

Christmas time is here again, and as always, I am delighted to recommend two books to read over the holidays. One is a sequel to a book I previously reviewed and one has recently been reissued.

Title: How Winston Came Home For Christmas.
Author/Illustrator: Alex T. Smith.
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books.
Published: 2021.
Format: Hardback.
Source: Own copy.

I adored the previous book in the Winston series, and so I was very excited when the sequel was released this year. Like Winston's first adventure, this comes in the same format of 24 and a half chapters to read each day, along with some new festive activities to keep you busy.

It's getting closer to Christmas, and Winston is already enjoying time with his new friend Oliver. However, he cannot help but have strange flashbacks to a Christmas long ago, and he cannot help but feel that somebody else is missing from his life. And so he sets off on another adventure to find this somebody, this time around Europe. All of the characters you loved from the previous book make their return, but there are some new companions there to help Winston on his journey of self-discovery, ranging from the pampered yet adventure-seeking poodle Gaspard to the shy and nervous fox Heinz.

The story is incredibly heartwarming and the activities just as fun as the first book's set. If you had read and enjoyed the first Winston book, this is definitely worth getting.

Title: Jingle Bells.
Author/Illustrator: Nick Butterworth.
Publisher: HarperCollins.
Published: 1998.
Format: Hardback.
Source: Own copy.

I have always been a fan of the Percy the Park Keeper books and I was extra lucky to see their creator Nick Butterworth discuss his work at the 2019 Wimbledon Book Festival. This is another one of his books I greatly enjoyed, and it has been re-published in paperback this year.

The book concerns two mice with a problem - they want to enjoy Christmas but are constantly being terrorised by the mean cat Angus. Luckily, they have a plan which involves...well, I won't spoil it, but there's a reason for the title. I greatly enjoyed this story when I was younger and I still enjoy it now, both for the humour and the memorable characters. Whether you are a Percy fan like me or are new to Butterworth's books, this is one Christmas story you shouldn't miss out on.

That does it for another year of reviewing wonderful Christmas books. I hope you all have a happy Christmas and find a good read for the holidays, whether it be one of the books I recommended or maybe even something different.

Raymond Briggs Winter Graphic Novels

Raymond Briggs is one of my favourite writers and illustrators of all time. A master of the graphic novel format, he has written several iconic stories, some of which have even been adapted for TV. These are two of his best, perfect for enjoying throughout the cold winter days.

Title: The Snowman.
Author/Illustrator: Raymond Briggs.
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton.
Published: 1978.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

This is no doubt Briggs' most iconic work, made particularly famous by the numerous animated TV specials and stage shows. It tells the magical yet bittersweet story of a boy who builds a snowman that comes to life one night. Whilst a fantastical tale on the surface, it also delves into the idea of making the most of the time you have. What makes the book especially charming is that it is left ambiguous as to when the events occur, so you don't have to only read it at Christmas time.

The best aspect of the book though is that it is told without any words. Instead, it relies on the actions and emotions of the characters as well as the setting itself in order to communicate its message, making plenty of its scenes more powerful in the process - in particular the final panel. There is a version of the book that comes with words, but you will not find any need to read it as the pictures already tell you so much about what is happening.

Title: The Complete Father Christmas.
Author/Illustrator: Raymond Briggs.
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton.
Published: 1978.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

Father Christmas is a real character - rather than the kindly, wise figure we see in most media, he's a comical curmudgeon who finds it hard to get into the same Christmas spirit that he spreads to other people, complete with his "blooming" catchphrase. Instead of living in a fantasy wonderland and having a whole team of elves at his disposal, he has to get on with the work by himself in a house that looks like one you'd find on your average suburban street. In a way, he takes on a life of his own in these tales and has arguably become just as iconic as the traditional portrayal.

There are two stories in this omnibus to enjoy. The first one, Father Christmas, focuses on the titular character delivering all of the presents around the world, sometimes to some famous places like Buckingham Palace, before celebrating Christmas himself. The second one, Father Christmas Goes on Holiday, consists of him struggling to find the perfect place to spend the summer and the mishaps he has along the way. These stories are incredibly funny with plenty of moments to make you laugh, and they will present a whole new side to everyone's favourite holiday spirit that we rarely see captured in other works.