Reviews

The naughtiest reindeer takes a bow by Nicki Greenberg

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760297653
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Rhyming story, Christmas, Reindeer, Presents. Christmas is approaching quickly and Ruby wants to help Santa this year so that he does not get stressed out delivering all the presents on time. Ruby, Rudolph's naughty sister was first introduced in The naughtiest reindeer (2013) and has had two more books about her playfulness, The naughtiest reindeer at the zoo (2015) and The naughtiest reindeer goes south (2016)
Ruby is enchanting and just as welcome in this verse story telling of her efforts to help.
She throws the sack of presents on her back the day before Christmas and heads off pulling the sleigh alone. Because she is unable to do this by herself, she falls onto the outside of the house of George and Amelia. They take her in, pushing all the presents into the garage, but their parents do not want the reindeer to stay at home, so the children take her to school where they are rehearsing their songs for Christmas Eve. The class are all dressed as reindeer, and Ruby tries to join in but makes things a little worse. Meanwhile Santa and the other reindeer are looking for the presents and so the two groups collide with predictably funny results, as Ruby works out how the two groups can manage to deliver all the presents on time.
Children will love reading of Ruby's adventures as she really tries to help, but finds that all her efforts cause some sort of mayhem.
Readers will enjoy predicting the rhyming words as they gobble up an array of new words, like astonish, admonish, disappear and initiative. I love Ruby and the reindeers, fashioned out of wood, with twig antlers, encouraging any reader to try one out for themselves, and the array of Christmas customs are reflected through the book for everyone to enjoy. The book's shimmering cover is sure to attract a host of readers.
Fran Knight

Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas! by Laurie Friedman

Ill. by Kathryn Durst. Carolrhoda Books, 2017. ISBN 9781467792615
(Age: All) Highly recommended. With a name like Mary Christmas how could you not like Christmas? The problem is Mary does not like Christmas. The whole Christmas family are especially happy at Christmas time, except poor Mary. The Christmas family do Christmas in a big way but Mary does not feel merry at all.
When the family go to visit Santa, Mary believes that Santa can make Christmas merry for her. After visiting him Mary thought a lot about what he had said. She finally had an idea of how she could make Christmas merry for everyone and with her family's help Mary Christmas finally had a Merry Christmas.
This is a great Christmas picture book for children of all ages, and I would highly recommend it.
Karen Colliver

Rory the dinosaur needs a Christmas tree by Liz Climo

Rory the dinosaur series. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. ISBN 9780316469678
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Celebration, Fatherhood, Family. Following the success of the two previous books, Rory the dinosaur: me and my dad, and Rory the dinosaur wants a pet, this new story about Rory will be most welcome. Rory and his dad are excited about the coming festivity, as is everyone else on their island. They have put up decorations, made a wreath, made cookies, hung their stockings, wrapped their presents and hung up Christmas lights, but one thing is missing. So Rory and his dad go off hunting for a Christmas tree. They search all over the island, finding many trees, but none is the right one to have in their home. Disappointed they return and make some cocoa, and listen to the people singing carols outside their window. But when Rory goes to put his present for his dad under the tree, there is not one there. He falls asleep where the tree should be, but when he wakes he is in for quite a surprise.
Another delightful outing for Rory the dinosaur, this one like the others is replete with warmth and expressions of love shared by Rory and his dad. They do everything together, each supporting the other, and dad dressing up for his beloved son so he is not disappointed on Christmas Day. The simple yet direct and uncluttered illustrations suit the story perfectly, and younger children will love seeing Rory in all his glory as he presents all the customs that surround Christmas and its celebration in the west.
And the main theme is pulled together on the very last page. Hopefully Rory and his father will have many more adventures, warmly expressing a homage to fatherhood and the love shared by father and son.
Fran Knight

Create your own Christmas by Isabel Thomas

Ill. by Katie Abey. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408882207
Have you spent all year dreaming of turkey, tinsel and Christmas trees? Christmas is FAR too important to leave to the adults to get right - so take control and create your own Christmas. Make a sleigh launcher to start Christmas with a whizz? Paint a festive scene with leftovers from your Christmas dinner. Build your own Christmas cracker to celebrate with a BANG.
Well this book was right up my alley - anything to do with craft, making, construction - my ears prick up! This book would be a great Christmas stocking filler - children would love to have their own copy to pick and choose which activity to choose next. I love the introduction of the book and the little annotations throughout it allowing the children to follow the directions. It is bright and colourful, utilising the traditional Christmas colours and extremely well set out. It clearly lists the items required and have simple step by step instructions to follow. While the children are completing the activities, they will also be able to learn about many of the history surrounding Christmas traditions. Priced with a RRP of $14.99 it would also make a great boredom buster leading up to Christmas.
Kathryn Schumacher

Sage Cookson's Christmas ghost by Sally Murphy

Santa's gone surfing by P. Crumble

Ill. by Thomas Fitzpatrick. Koala Books, 2017. ISBN 9781743815663
(Age: 4-7) Themes: Rhyme, Christmas, Australian Stories. This is a reimagined story of Santa's journey with an Australian flavour (think An Aussie Day Before Christmas but not as respectable). P. Crumble is known for his silly picture books (particularly his many I know an old . . . stories as well as for his stories about Kevin, the grumpy cat in The Cat Wants Cuddles and The Cat Wants Custard) and this one is no less silly. It features a bogan-ish main character named Trev taking over from Santa, who just wants a holiday at the beach. The reindeers are replaced by emus with names such as Stinky and Sheila and as Rudolph's equivalent there is Squinty with his bloodshot red eye. The sleigh is a rusty old yellow ute and Trev sports chin stubble, rubber thongs and some stubby footy shorts that are falling down and showing off his spotty pink jocks and flabby stomach. He hasn't passed Santa school yet but he's all they've got on the emergency list.
There is one map showing Trev's journey up and down the east coast and another of his lap of Tasmania. It lists off cities and dots some of them on the map but it would have been better if this structure continued through the rest of the country to give readers a visual idea of his entire journey and to orient them to the geography of Australia. (It is probably a bit ridiculous to expect a story this silly to be educational but it would have added to its value).
This makes a bit of a farce of the Santa story and is quite unpleasant to an adult (Santa is stinky, sweaty and obese, Trev is quite repulsive and daft looking and Squinty's bloodshot eye is rather off-putting). Children, with their love of the distasteful, will probably think it is riotously fun.
Nicole Nelson

Bouncing bouncing little joeys: a bush Christmas by Lesley Gibbes

Ill. by Doris Chang. Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734417565
(Age: 3+) Themes: Christmas, Rhyming story, Australian animals. Three joeys, the young of a red kangaroo, a wallaby and a numbat, trim their Christmas tree in time for Christmas and the imminent arrival of Santa Claus. Each of the joeys brings along some decorations to add to the tree, eventually standing on each other to put the star on top. They cut up paper to make crafty things and Christmas cards, they bake cake and gingerbread for Santa to eat, they hang their stockings on a line between the eucalypts, make a wreath, sing Christmas carols and hang up the mistletoe. When all is done, they curl up together to have a well deserved sleep.
In rhyming lines the metre is simple and will be easily learnt by the listeners, able to join in as it is read aloud. The simple rhyming allows all children to have a guess at the last word of each refrain, encouraging their participation. The strength of the book lies in its reflection of the customs surrounding Christmas in Australia, encouraging children to talk about what happens in their houses at this time of the year and teaching those new to the country how Christmas is celebrated here.
Fran Knight

Father Christmas heard a fart by Olaf Falafel

HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9780008244316
(Age: 3-7) Christmas. This is comedian Olaf Felafal's first picture book. It is set to the tune of Old McDonald Had a Farm and is about a Christmas fart mystery. "Father Christmas heard a fart . . . E-I-E-I-O! He thought that fart came from a bird . . . E-I-E-I-O! With a Pffrrp Pffrrp here and Pffrrp Pffrrp there . . . ". It even tells the reader how to make each of the fart sounds, complete with instructions and facial diagrams showing Santa making the noise (e.g. "Fill one of your cheeks with air, and play it like a bagpipe!"). As all this farting is going on we see Santa preparing for his Christmas run. Finally, the culprit is discovered. "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house rang the sound of a fart . . . from an overfed mouse!".
This is completely silly but the shiny illustrations show the wonderful Christmas world of a child's imagination (lots of toys, snow, presents, Christmas trees, elves, reindeers) and it is easy to sing. The instructions for making the fart noises are fun and children will love joining in.
Nicole Nelson

Busy Nativity ill. by Emily Bolam

Busy Book series. Campbell Books, 2017. ISBN 9781509828951
(Age: 2-4) Themes: Nativity, Board Book, Interactive Book, Rhyme. This is one of the Busy Book series (comprising more than 20 titles) that includes Busy Park, Busy Baking and Busy Fire Station. Each book contains push and pull tabs and is composed of very sturdy board pages. The tabs and pull-outs are equally robust. Each page contains lots of detail, thereby providing opportunities for children to ask questions, make observations and discuss what they notice. There are also simple questions (e.g., "Who is on the donkey?") to stimulate discussion between reader and child.
The text is very short, with a simple rhyming narration of the first Christmas (e.g., "Sweet baby Jesus was born that night. As angels appeared and a star so bright"). It tells of the birth of baby Jesus but does not go into the meaning of Christmas or why his birth is so celebrated. In fact, God is not mentioned at all.
The illustrations are colourful and depict a happy, all-smiling world. There are lots of animals for young ones to point out and name.
This is a joyful first introduction to the Nativity story that will even engage busy toddlers with short attention spans.
Nicole Nelson

I went to see Santa by Paul Howard

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408844724
(Age: 2-5) Themes: Christmas. Santa Claus. Author and illustrator Paul Howard follows up on his successful picture book I Went to the Supermarket with this cheerful story I went to see Santa. Youngsters will be familiar with this fun and easy to play circle game, where each one repeats the refrain then adds a new item starting with the next alphabet letter. In this amusing story, a young brother and sister use their creativity and imagination to conjure up some unusual Christmas-themed items.
The amusing illustrations use strong primary colours and close-up scenes to make the characters stand out from their bright backgrounds. There are bright green glasses with Santa hats, amazing magic sets, even a friendly reindeer with twinkling lights on its antlers. From a coin-filled pirate chest, we quickly move on to seven cute seven dancing penguins and a band of merry elves throwing snowballs. Each of the characters actively joins in with the activity on the new double page spread, floating in space, decorating the giant gingerbread tree and cheering as Santa finally appears.
I went to see Santa is a fun story to share with young children who will love the repetitive and cumulative text; they will soon join in and share in the fun of the story, even though the text is not in alphabetical order.
Rhyllis Bignell

How many quacks till Christmas? by Mark Sperring

Ill. by Ed Eaves. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408871089
(Age: 2-5) Themes: Farm animals, Christmas. There is an air of excitement at Merry Farm; garlands of wheat, shiny baubles and strings of colourful lights decorate the farmyard. The excited farm animals are wearing Christmas scarves, Santa hats and bright red and green collars, all anticipating the coming holiday. Each of the young creatures question their parents with oinks, moos, neighs and cheeps. They want to know how many days until Christmas. The little piglets squeal with glee and question their mamma splashing in a muddy puddle, 'how many oinks till Christmas?' We follow the black and white puppy as he races around the farm yard, skipping with the lambs, then riding on the Christmas tree cart pulled by the mare as her foals ask 'how many neighs till Christmas?' Merry Farm is a buzz of holiday preparation, from the barn, to the fields to the barnyard.
Mark Sperring's cheery rhyme is fun to share with a preschool or kindergarten class and just right to share as a family. Children can respond and guess the animal sounds, the rhyming words and the animal actions. Illustrator Ed Eaves brings Merry Farm to life with bold colours and familiar farm animals preparing for Christmas in a bright snowy setting. This exciting story provides an amusing and engaging countdown to Christmas.
Rhyllis Bignell

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas surprise by Mark Carthew

Ill. by Simon Prescott. New Frontier Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925059991
(Age: 4-7) Themes: Christmas trees. Friendship. It is the 1st of December and Marigold finds a large box on her doorstep. When she carries it inside branches and decorations fall out and she knows that it is a Christmas tree. It is from her mother, who tells her in the accompanying letter that the box contains things that are treasured and have been put on the Christmas tree by the family every year. It now belongs to Marigold who can't wait to tell her friend Marvin about it and together they share the joy of unpacking the baubles and decorating the tree. Tired, at last they enjoy some biscuits and cheese as they admire their work.
This is a joyful story of friendship, sharing and passing on Christmas traditions. Marigold's mother has ensured that the customs that she shared with her daughter are preserved and knows that the decorations will bring back many happy memories. Marigold too, is a kind and loving person who makes sure that Marvin is not left alone during the festive season.
The illustrations show a cute pair of mice and will be enjoyed by young children who will have the opportunity to look at the drawings of the decorations and talk about ones that are treasured in their own homes.
Pat Pledger

The red ribbon by Lucy Adlington

Hot Key Books, 2017. ISBN 9781471406560
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Holocaust. Auschwitz-Burkenau. Dressmaking. Survival. World War Two. The first section of this book, Green, describes a young woman, Ella living in nightmarish conditions, underfed, abused, forced to work making dresses in a shed with no amenities. At first I thought it to be a dystopian novel of a nasty future, or perhaps a tale of enslaved women today, but it became a story of how some girls lived at Auschwitz-Birkenau, that most hated of Nazi Concentration Camps, used in Poland during the 1940's for the killing of all those whom the Nazis wanted to be rid of. Within this camp the commandant's wife set up a dressmaking room to have the women make them fashionable clothing. Ella and her friend, Rose struggle to keep themselves alive, and befriend one of the guards who likes Ella's dressmaking skills and gives her some extras for her work. But they fall out over a red ribbon and Ella and her friend, Rose are sent to the laundry to work.
The privation, poverty, abuse and utter inhumane way these people were dealt with makes hard reading, and I needed to leave the book for a while before finishing it.
The book gives an insight into a small event in Auschwitz where a commandant's wife did actually set up a dressmaking salon amongst the absolute horror of the place for the use of other officers' wives and some of the guards. Apparently she enjoyed going there to have couturier dresses made for her. That these women could have the skinny enslaved women as their dressmakers reflects the piteous way in which the camp residents were seen.
Descriptions of the thousands brought to the camp in the final years of the war to be killed makes up the background of life lived there, but when the authorities realised that the end of the war was imminent, many more thousands were force marched away from the now burning buildings, to die in the snow. Ella survived through someone's kindness and hope became a catch cry through the rest of her life.
There are many novels written about the Holocaust and they fill in the history for teens who are unaware that such brutality existed in our world. And still does. So this is a novel which many will read, acquainting themselves with the horror of the past and like Ella, hoping for a better future.
Fran Knight

Ban this book by Alan Gratz

Lothian Children's Books, 2017. ISBN 9780734417824
(Age: Middle primary - Middle School) Highly recommended. Amy Anne Ollinger has it pretty tough at home... her youngest sister thinks she is a My Little Pony and the other, whom Amy Anne unfortunately shares her bedroom with, uses Amy's bed for ballet practice and yells at her whenever she comes in the room. No wonder she turns to reading to escape from it all. When her favourite book in the whole wide world is banned from the school library along with 12 other very popular books, the usually quiet Amy Anne rebels. The introverted protagonist begins to collect the list of banned books and starts a library out of her locker. Her idol, the school librarian, gives her occasional hints about how best to run a library; a lending system, for example. The novel focuses on censorship but in a lighthearted way that has the reader cheering for the book lovers.
The books are banned because a member of the School Board deems the book inappropriate. Amy Anne's argument is that a child's parent should be able to decide what is appropriate and suitable for their child on an individual basis. The list of banned books is based on a factual collection of books banned at one or another stage within American schools which could add an interesting element of discussion, as well touching on the first and second amendments. The novel is set in an American school. This novel was light and hilarious at points. Amy Anne engineers a campaign to challenge every book in the school library with her friends by finding ridiculous reasoning to challenge; The magic treehouse raises safety concerns; The Lorax portrays the timber industry in a negative light, and so on. Having a sense of humour in such a serious situation is a tool used by the author to really draw in the reader. The only downside? Amy Anne is written as a fourth grader, which may lose a percentage of middle years readers.
Clare Thompson

Building site zoo by Sophie Masson

Ill. by Laura Wood, Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734417534
(Age: 4+) Building. Machinery. Animals. Verse. Walking to school is enhanced by looking closely at the machinery along the way. Granddad and the two children do not see just the machines but change them to animals that replicate the work the machine does. So the bulldozer becomes a bull, flattening the earth and churning it up with a mighty roar. The man using a jackhammer to deconstruct a cement balcony becomes a kangaroo, bouncing up and down and waking the town. The cement mixer becomes a huge hippo, churning all in his big mouth into a creamy sauce, and the cranes are giraffe, stretching their long necks down to the ground.
Each machine and animal are represented in rhyming stanzas, encouraging children to predict the rhyming word at the end of each doublet, and learning the line to repeat with the reader. Pleasing bright illustrations will attract the younger readers and the whole encourages a creative and imaginative look at a building site.
Fran Knight