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.

Christmas Picture Book Reviews 2020

2020 has certainly been a chaotic year for many, with this Christmas season in particularly having to be done differently to usual. I have found that having a good book to read always helps during these stressful times and these Christmas books will certainly help to make your Christmas a little brighter. This time I will be reviewing one classic, one brand new book and one that features a character beloved by many.

Title: The Polar Express.
Author/Illustrator: Chris van Allsburg.
Publisher: Anderson Press.
Published: 1985.
Format: Paperback.
Source: My own copy.

I was very lucky to be able to watch Chris van Allsburg talk recently, as well as receive a signed copy of the 35th anniversary version of The Polar Express, one of his most famous books. The story tells of a young boy who boards a train one night to the North Pole, with other children joining him and a breathtaking view of the sights around. When the children arrive at Santa's place, one of them will receive the first gift of the year.

This is a magical yet poignant tale of the power of belief, and is vastly superior to the film adaptation of it. It comes complete with the beautiful photorealistic illustrations that Allsburg is renowned for, all mixed with a magical adventure. The descriptions of the sights that the children see, as well as the fact that they receive hot chocolate and get to sing Christmas carols, really made me want to ride the Polar Express itself! Definitely a classic worth checking out.

Title: The Twelve Days Of Christmas or Grandma is Overly Generous.

Author/Illustrator: Alex T. Smith.
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books.
Published: 2020.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

A very humorous take on The Twelve Days Of Christmas. Eloise's grandma is very generous...a little too generous. As the days go by, her gifts for Eloise keep on increasing and, whilst the book starts off in the same way as the original poem, it takes an entirely original turn once it gets to the seventh day. Eloise's reactions are mixed - sometimes she's delighted and sometimes she's unsure whether these gifts are what she really wants. And the twelfth provides the biggest surprise of them all...

I got a good chuckle from the humorous and often surprising situations that Eloise finds herself in, with the trademark illustrations of Alex T. Smith really adding to them. I also loved the Edwardian touch to Eloise and her grandmother's outfits as a reference to when the original was first published. Like Smith's other Christmas book I reviewed last year, How Winston Delivered Christmas, this is a perfect read for Christmas time and a particularly funny one at that too.

Title: Winnie and Wilbur Meet Santa.Author: Valerie Thomas.
Illustrator: Korky Paul.
Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Published: 2016.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

I've always enjoyed the antics of Winnie the Witch and her cat Wilbur. This time, her adventures see her having to help out Santa after he got stuck in her chimney. Now he needs her help in delivering the presents to the children in time. As always with Winnie and Wilbur, things don't go so smoothly...

For those who know about this series, you will be pleased to know that this book is complete with the same slapstick and zany antics that Winnie and Wilbur are known and loved for, topped off with the irreverent and humorous illustrations of Korky Paul. But it's the added bonuses exclusive to this book that really make it stand out. From the endpages featuring drawings of the characters from children who love these stories to the pop-up features at the end of the book, this is definitely a Christmas treat worth having.

Mr. Bunny's Chocolate Factory

Title: Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory

Author: Elys Dolan
Publisher:  Oxford University Press
Published: 2017
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

 I've had a great Easter so far, going on Easter egg hunts (you are never too old) and eating the chocolate that I find. This celebration has now passed and the chocolate is almost gone. However, unlike any chocolate Easter egg, this treat of a book will last the whole year round and can be consumed again and again.

At the centre of the story is the chocolate factory owned by Mr Bunny, who runs his business with an iron fist. The hens that are employed by him and Edgar, the unicorn that works on quality control, are ordered to overwork in order to produce the Easter treats on time, with work conditions worsening and getting more hectic throughout the book, until finally, the chickens have had enough and Mr Bunny is forced to change his ways and become a better employer. This is a humorous and energetic tale and the brightly-coloured and expressive illustrations by its writer and illustrator Elys Dolan, along with the speech bubbles used to tell the story, are sure to entertain the reader over and over again.  As a bonus, there is a side-tale about the plight of Debbie, a newcomer hen, who goes missing on her first day at work, and the hens who are desperate to find her whilst they fight for better conditions in the workplace.

This story made me laugh out loud when I read it and still puts a smile on my face every time I revisit it. Fans of Elys’s previous books, including her debut masterpiece Weasels, will be delighted that she has produced yet another brilliant book. This is a lively and hilarious tale that will appeal to both children and their parents alike and the ideal book to read not only at Easter time, but throughout the whole year.

New Christmas Picture Books

The twelve days of Christmas are over so I thought that I would recommend some books for next year! I was lucky enough to receive some brilliant new Christmas-themed picture books and I would like to review three that particularly stood out to me.

 

Title: The Mouse That Cancelled Christmas

Author: Madeleine Cook

Illustrator: Samara Hardy

Publisher:  Oxford University Press

Published: 2016

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

 

In this lively tale, the forest animals are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and get into the spirit of it. However, the mouse is so obsessed with safety that he worries that the festivities will be too dangerous for them all and tries to cancel them. Eventually however, the animals work together to find a way to help the mouse loosen up and the Christmas festivities to continue. This is a very funny story with endearing pictures that helps to teach the message about the importance of the Christmas spirit and celebrating with your loved ones. The cast of animals, including the eponymous mouse himself, are memorable and funny like the story itself.

 

 

Title: Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer

Author: Nicola Killen

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Published: 2016

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

 

This heart-warming picture book tells the story of a little girl named Ollie who hears the jingle of bells one night and sets off into the snow in order to investigate. Upon finding a belt with silver bells on it and the reindeer that it belongs to, both a magical journey and a long-lasting friendship begin. I found this to be a very sweet story with endearing pictures to match, and the cut-outs that lead to the next page serve as an excellent bonus. The red and silver highlights add just the right level of festivity to the lovely monochrome illustrations. In the same way that Ollie will always remember her newfound friend once the tale has ended, this story will also remain with the audience with its charm and lovable cast.

 

Title: A Dot in the Snow

Author: Corinne Averiss

Illustrator: Fiona Woodcock

Publisher:  Oxford University Press

Published: 2016

Format: Hardback

Source: My own copy

 

This story is about a polar bear named Miki that heads out on its own one day and notices a small red dot in the distance. As they get closer to each other, the dot is revealed to be a friendly young girl and she and Miki become friends with each other. They play together in the snow and eventually, in helping the Dot, Miki is able to find the courage to dive into the chilly waters when beforehand he did not want to. It is a very sweet tale with lovely illustrations inside, complete with the red of the girl's coat and the sparkly glitter on the front cover. The characters are extremely likeable and the friendship between Miki and the Dot is something special indeed.

 

Christmas books from Mick Inkpen

In order to celebrate the Christmas holidays, I have chosen to write some reviews on three books by one of my favourite authors and illustrators Mick Inkpen. They are all ideal for the Christmas season and will appeal to both children and adults alike.

 Title: Kipper’s Christmas Eve

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 1999
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy
Paperback printed October 2014

This is one of the instalments in the much-loved “Kipper” series, which I adored as a child and still love. As Kipper goes off to find the perfect Christmas tree and invites his friends Tiger, Pig and Arnold round to his house, the book aims to answer the important question – which is best, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? This is a very funny and warm-hearted story with timeless illustrations to match, with the added bonus of a cute little mouse that follows Kipper around after he finds the perfect Christmas tree. The last page of the original hardback is particularly delightful, with a flashing red light located on the reindeer hat that Arnold wears as he looks out of the window in anticipation for Father Christmas.

Title: Kipper’s Snowy Day

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 2015 (reissue)
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Another brilliant instalment in the “Kipper” series, this book involves everyone's favourite dog building a snowman with the help of his friend Tiger, who has chosen to wear some funny looking accessories for keeping warm in the cold. Many funny antics occur whilst he wears these garments, which are eventually used to decorate the snowman. This all culminates in a wonderful picture of the snowman at night time as the snow continues to fall down near the end of the story. Like the other “Kipper” book, this is also a humorous text with the same liveliness in its illustrations, with the friends taking part in snowball fights and building the snowman to look just like Kipper.

 

Title: Threadbear

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Published: 2007
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

This book is themed around toys and mainly focuses on Threadbear, a teddy bear whose squeaker does not work because his toymaker filled him up with too much stuffing. In order to solve this problem, the other toys recommend that he visits Father Christmas and what follows is a magical journey. The amusing narrative and the timeless pictures pair perfectly together to create a brilliant picture book with a satisfying ending for both the audience and the characters. It is not hard to see why, like the “Kipper” series, this story has also gone on to be a picture book classic.

 

Christmas Classics

As Christmas Day approaches, we all love to read books to get ourselves into the spirit of the holidays. These three books are well-loved classics and I always like to read them during this time of year.

 

 

Title: A Christmas Carol

Author: Charles Dickens
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
Publisher: Pavilion Children's Books
Published: 2008
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This book is already a Christmas classic, but this beautiful edition with Quentin Blake's illustrations is a definite favourite of mine. A lot of people find Dickens hard to read but this story is shorter than most of his other novels. Additionally, the lively pictures make the tale easy to follow and help to introduce children to his novels. In this story, the cynical miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns the true meaning of Christmas: embracing the spirit of it and giving to the less fortunate. There is a wide variety of memorable characters including Scrooge himself and the innocent Tiny Tim to whom he gradually becomes closer, eventually becoming like a second father.

 

 

Title: Eloise at Christmastime

Author: Kay Thompson
Illustrator: Hilary Knight
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1999
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This lively and vibrant book tells the story of Eloise, a lively young girl who lives in a hotel with her nanny and how she is getting into the spirit of the Christmas holidays. The story is told in rhyme with a recurring musical theme throughout and the pictures are full of energy, with the simplistic colour palette of red, black and white making them stand out. The cast itself is also memorable and endearing, with other characters such as the Nanny, Eloise's pets and the friends who live inside and outside the hotel celebrating with the protagonist. This has to be my favourite instalment in the classic Eloise series.

Title: The Night Before Christmas

Author: Clement C Moore
Illustrator: Arthur Rackham
Publisher: Chancellor Press
Published: 1985
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Originally called “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”, this classic narrative poem tells the story of a father who witnesses Father Christmas visit his family home on Christmas Eve. The event is described in full detail, with vibrant descriptions of Father Christmas himself and what he does upon arriving at the house. The rhyming makes the poem fun to read and its fast pace perfectly matches the lively mood of Christmas. I especially recommend the edition with illustrations by Arthur Rackham or the pop-up retelling by Robert Sabuda.

Title: The Night Before Christmas

Author: Clement C Moore
Illustrator: Robert Sabuda
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2002
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Hello Mr Dodo

Title: Hello Mr Dodo
Author: Nicholas John Frith
Publisher:  Alison Green Books (Scholastic)
Published: 2016
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Recently, Nicholas John Frith was the winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for his first picture book “Hector And The Hummingbird”. “Hello, Mr Dodo!” is the second picture book that he has released.

The protagonist of the story is a young girl named Martha, who is fascinated by birds and knows about every single one of them that lives behind her house in the woods. That is until she discovers a dodo behind her house, a species of bird that was originally thought to be extinct. Martha decides to protect the bird and soon makes friends with it, discovering new facts about dodos, such as the fact that they apparently like doughnuts. Everything seems to be going well for a while…until one day when the postman arrives.

This story is really funny and will delight many readers of any age. The pictures are especially endearing and have a timeless feel to them, with both Martha and the dodo looking absolutely adorable. Different types of birds are introduced throughout the story, with the last page featuring a checklist of birds that Martha has seen along with drawings of them. There is an especially interesting scene in which Martha looks up dodos in her books at home and the audience is treated to passages from these books on the history of dodos, introducing them to these once-existing birds.

Overall, this is a very charming picture book that children and their parents will enjoy reading over and over again. The timeless quality to it makes it appealing to all ages alike and the audience is able to learn about dodos and their history as a result, as well as enjoy the sweet story. Once again, Frith has managed to write an entertaining and heartwarming book that explores the theme of friendship like Hector and The Hummingbird.

 

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam The Diamond Chase

Title: Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam The Diamond Chase
Author: Tracey Corderoy
Illustrator: Steve Lenton
Publisher:  Nosy Crow
Published: 2016
Format: Hardback/Paperback
Source: My own copy

This is the third book in the “Shifty McGifty And Slippery Sam” series by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, following the adventures of our two protagonists after they have given up their life of crime and gone into the cake-making business. In this instalment, they must take up the roles of not only bakers, but also detectives.

The bakers have been asked to provide the treats for Lady Kate's birthday party, which her energetic nephew Barnaby is also attending. They are successful in preparing the treats for the party guests despite Barnaby getting in the way at times and everything seems to be going well…until Lady Kate appears and reveals that someone has stolen her diamond tiara! Shifty and Sam instantly volunteer to help, but the thief will prove to be a hard one to catch. Like the other two books beforehand, this story is told in rhyme which will appeal and entertain a wide audience, especially one consisting of young children. It also has the same level of excitement as the other stories, which definitely got me reading further and wanting to find out whether the tiara is retrieved in the end. Additionally, the illustrations provided by Lenton continue to be expressive and delightful, capturing the mood of the characters perfectly.

This is another fantastic instalment in the series with brand new characters that children will love as well as familiar ones such as the lovable Scottie dog. This will definitely appeal to fans of the first two books as well as new readers, especially ones that love a good detective story and adventure.

Beegu

Title: Beegu
Author: Alexis Deacon
Publisher:  Red Fox
Published: 2003
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Beegu is one of the many books that the author and illustrator Alexis Deacon has created by himself. Like his other books, it carefully balances charm and poignancy.

At the start of the story Beegu has crashed onto Earth and has just woken up in entirely new surroundings. She finds it hard to communicate with other living beings and the humans seem to be cold and apathetic to her at first…until she meets up with a group of schoolchildren. The text is short and simple and most of the story is told through the pictures, which are beautifully drawn. The character of Beegu is drawn as a small bioluminescent yellow creature with long rabbit ears and this plus her friendly yet lonely personality makes her a lovable character. The book has some sad moments in it, but it also has happy moments such as when Beegu meets the schoolchildren who are eager to let her play with them. The message of Beegu is about being lonely and finding friends, but also of childhood innocence, which is reflect in both our protagonist and the human children.

In conclusion, Beegu is a sweet and poignant picture book with beautiful illustrations and a message about loneliness and friendship. Children and their parents will equally love the cuddly Beegu herself and these contributing factors mean that this story will appeal to audiences both young and old.

Poetry Books

As it is National Poetry Day I thought I would include a few reviews of books that I like. I love reading poetry and read a poem every night before I go to bed.

Title: A Great Big Cuddle
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Publisher: Walker
Date of Publication: September 2015
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This book involves poems written by former children’s laureate Michael Rosen and illustrated by current children’s laureate Chris Riddell. It is designed for especially young children and so features poems that are easy to read and fun to participate with such as “The Button Bop” and “Hello Goodbye”. The poems feature a lot of repetition that very young children will appreciate and there are funny poems as well as more deep and meaningful ones that will appeal to all ages. These poems encourage the child to join in when they are read aloud and will inspire a life-long love of poetry.

All of the poems are simplistic yet entertaining at the same time, and the light-hearted illustrations that Riddell provides match them very well. The characters that appear on each page, such as the multi-coloured monkeys in “Hello Goodbye”, will appeal to children and their parents as well. The design and layout of the book is excellent and the colours and fonts help the poems and pictures to stand out. Overall, this is a must-have for young children and their parents, as well as anyone who likes to have a fun poem to read aloud and join in with.

Title: Read Me... series
Author: Gaby Morgan, Louise Bolongara, Nick Toczek and Paul Cookson
Illustrator: Georgie Ripper
Publisher: Macmillan
Date of publication: Various
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copies

The “Read Me…” series is designed with schools in mind and each collection features 366 poems, one for every day of the year. The first two books are “Read Me 1” and “Read Me 2”, but now other books have been released for the series that explore different types of poems. For example, “Read Me First” includes poems designed for younger children, “Read Me And Laugh” includes funny poems and “Read Me Out Loud!” includes poems that can be read out by one or more persons.

All of the poetry collections feature a variety of poems from old to new in many different forms. The collections include works by well known and less well known poets as well as many by anonymous authors. The poems included are engaging and will appeal to different people whether they are old and young. I feel that it’s also a treat to have a different poem to read every day. It gives the reader a chance to discover different poets and styles and will inspire them to search out more of the same elsewhere. Additionally, there are illustrations by Georgie Ripper included in “Read Me First” that children will love for their appealing nature. For these reasons, these books are a must-have for schools, families and people who just like to have a good poem to read everyday.

Croc and Bird

Title: Croc and Bird

Author: Alexis Deacon

Publisher: Red Fox

Published: 2012

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

 

 

Here’s another Alexis Deacon book that have I read and enjoyed. Published in 2012, Croc And Bird is one of his more recent books created by him alone and has the same introspective message and gorgeous artwork as the other stories.

In the story, a crocodile and a bird hatch out of their eggs next to each other and as a result, they mistake each other for brothers. Bonding between them ensues as they begin to share their lifestyles with one another and go on adventures together. The story is very funny and simplistic, but also poignant and heart warming as it explores the themes of brotherhood and friendship. As always, the pictures are beautifully drawn and coloured and we also get to explore, through both the illustrations and the text, the growth of the characters both in age and in personality.

In general, Croc And Bird is a meaningful tale of brotherly love with humour and poignancy blended together seamlessly. The main characters are absolutely lovable which will appeal to children and their parents alike and furthermore, the tale serves as a celebration of siblings everywhere, therefore making it a must-read for whole families.

I Am Henry Finch

Title: I Am Henry Finch
Author: Alexis Deacon
Illustrator: Viviane Schwarz
Publisher:  Walker Books
Published: 2014
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

I Am Henry Finch is the third collaboration between Alexis Deacon and Viviane Schwarz, following the books A Place To Call Home and Cheese Belongs To You!

The story follows the plights of a flock of finches who always do the same things and say the same greetings until the titular Henry suddenly gains the power of thought and decides to take on the beast that threatens them on a regular basis. This is a very funny story that also happens to have a philosophical message behind it about the power of individual thinking and spreading that power around. Both the story and the dialogue are very simplistic at first and become more complex as Henry gains more thoughts and passes them on, therefore matching the progression of the finches perfectly. The illustrations are also very cute, with red fingerprints used to create the bodies of the finches and black pen used to create the rest of their features such as their beaks, feet, wings and eyes, which will appeal to young children immensely.

In general, the blend between humour and philosophy makes I Am Henry Finch both a funny and interesting book to read which can be enjoyed by everyone, both young and old. Children and art fans alike will also love the fingerprint illustrations.

The Moomins and the Great Flood

Welcome to my blog. For my first post I thought I should review the book I am holding in my picture.

Title: The Moomins and the Great Flood.
Author: Tove Jansson (translated by David McDuff)
Publisher: Sort of Books
Published in 2012
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Originally published in 1945 in Finland, reprinted in 1991 and finally translated into English in 2012, The Moomins And The Great Flood is what some have described as a “rediscovered gem”. Furthermore, it serves as the first ever instalment of the much-loved Moomins series with the same magical tone to it.

The book introduces us to the lovable Moomintroll and Moominmamma as they head out on the journey to find Moominpappa, who has gone away with the Hattifatteners. On the way, they meet up with the Little Creature, later to be known as Sniff, as well as the beautiful blue-haired Tulippa who they find in a flower used for light. Not only are the familiar characters just as lovable as remembered, but the same applies to the additional characters in the story such as Tulippa herself. The Hattifatteners described here are quite different to the ones that appear in Finn Family Moomintroll, but their personality is the same. The plot essentially appears to be fairytale-inspired, with a few twists here and there, which will appeal to young children and fairytale fans alike. The artwork in the story is beautifully drawn with black ink and sepia watercolours for the larger pictures and in spite of the Moomins looking quite different to how they look for the rest of the series, they still look endearing and cuddly as always.

I would highly recommend The Moomins And The Great Flood to many readers young or old, including fans of the Moomins series and young children who have just discovered the series. The fairytale motifs and characters are appealing and so are the pictures, making the book a worthy addition to any bookshelf.