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.

How Winston Delivered Christmas

Title: How Winston Delivered Christmas.

Author/Illustrator: Alex T. Smith.

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books.

Published: 2018.

Format: Hardback.

Source: Own copy.

For my Christmas blog post this year, I review How Winston Delivered Christmas, a book that I received just after Christmas last year but have enjoyed reading in full this year. It is an entertaining and heartwarming story that demonstrates the importance of helping others and showing acts of kindness, no matter how small.

The story follows Winston, a young mouse who has always been looking for a place to call home. One Christmas Eve, he discovers a mislaid Christmas letter addressed to Father Christmas, and he makes it his job to get the letter delivered in time before Christmas Day. Along the way, he meets up with a variety of different characters who become his new friends and help him in his quest in many different ways. 

There are twenty-five chapters overall, each accompanying a different day of Advent. Each chapter is short and easy to read, yet enjoyable and fun at the same time. The book is filled with beautiful illustrations that perfectly add to the mood of each different chapter.

What makes this book stand out from other Christmas stories is that after each chapter, there are activities to try out at home, such as baking Christmas food and making decorations. Some of them are tied into the theme of the chapter that they accompany. Though I wasn't able to do all of them this year, I was able to complete many and had a lot of fun in the process! One other feature that I love is a list at the end of traditions that other countries have in celebrating Christmas.

This is a story with a well-written and diverse cast of characters along with plenty of humour and warmth (and a bit of suspense as well!). You will be rooting for the lovable Winston to succeed in his quest. I highly recommend this to people of all ages, and I promise that grown-ups will not be considered too old to join in with some of the activities too!

Halloween Pop-Up Books!

After a long hiatus taken to spend time on coursework, the Impish Reader is back, and just in time for Halloween! These pop-up books will be sure to spook you out as well as entertain you in the process.

Title: Haunted House.
Author/Illustrator: Jan Pienkowski.
Publisher: Heinemann.
Published: 1979.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

Haunted House tells the story of a mouse who asks his local doctor for help due to several issues, which turn out to be linked with the spooky house that he lives in. A brilliant example of the pictures telling more than the story, we get to learn more information about the house that the mouse does not know. There are many ways in which the reader can discover the secrets via interacting with the book - opening a flap may reveal a scary monster hiding behind a door, for instance. The illustrations are suitably spooky, but drawn in a way that will appeal to a child reader.




Title: The Dwindling Party.
Author/Illustrator: Edward Gorey.
Publisher: Heinemann.
Published: 1982.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.

The Dwindling Party is a story told in verse about the hapless MacFizzets, who set off to visit the mysterious Hickyacket Hall estate but slowly disappear one by one. Gorey's trademark dark humour runs through the book - we are offered a wry observation as to what happened to each member of the family, right up until the end when the survivor joins in with their own humorous comment on what just occurred. The illustrations are suitably gothic with many different spooky creatures appearing to take the MacFizzets away, and the reader can make these scenes come to life by pulling the tabs (thus controlling their fate).

I hope you all have a happy Halloween and enjoy these books as much as I do. Whether you remember them from childhood like I do, or have heard about them for the first time from this blog, you can be sure that they will provide a fascinating and chilling experience for the whole family!

Mostly Mary and All Mary

Title: Mostly Mary and All Mary
Author: Gwynedd Rae
Illustrator: Clara Vulliamy
Publisher: Egmont
Published: February 2017
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copies

I have always been a huge fan of the “Mary Plain” books and therefore I am very excited about the re-released editions with new illustrations by Clara Vulliamy. “Mostly Mary” and “All Mary” have been released so far with more books to come, and the tale of the unusual first-class bear from the bear pits of Berne is sure to be just as popular with children today.

 The first book of the series, “Mostly Mary”, focuses on Mary's time in the bear pits with her cousins and older relatives. We are introduced to Mary’s family and the people who visit her at the bear pits.  Mary always means well, but her best efforts are not always appreciated by those around her and often get her into trouble. In “All Mary” she travels with the Owl Man, first to stay with the Fancy Coat Lady and then to England where she wins a white rosette in a show. Unsurprisingly she causes chaos wherever she goes which adds to the fun. At the end of “All Mary” she is given a hero’s welcome back to Berne and is presented with a gold medal by the Mayor. These two books act as a perfect introduction to Mary and her best friend, the Owl Man. Future books focus mainly on the two of them and the adventures they have together. Everywhere she goes Mary makes new friends and leaves a lasting impression.

When Knight published their editions of “Mary Plain” back in the 1960s, there was a split between fans who embraced the new illustrations by Janina Ede and fans who preferred the old illustrations. However, the new illustrations have managed to effectively combine the best of both illustrators whilst being in Clara’s own distinctive style. Mary is still an adorable and endearing character but I think the new illustrations of her family really demonstrate their individual personalities. Additionally, there is a timeless feel to the art, making it appeal to both older and younger audiences alike. Not only is Mary a character that the modern audience will fall in love with, but her friends and family will stand out to them as well.

To see these books back in print is a dream come true, considering that they were such an important part of my childhood. These editions are beautifully produced with hard covers and gold highlights on the dust jackets. If you remove the dust jacket you find a secret message from Mary in her unique writing style. Clara Vulliamy is a brilliant choice for the new illustrations and they really are books to treasure. I cannot wait for the next books to come with Mary's further adventures. "Mary in America" and "Mary in London" will be published in October.

I would like to note that these are my own copies, but they were sent to me by Clare because we both love Mary. There was no request for a review at any time.

 

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.