Countdown to Christmas by Evie Garland and Rachel Gyan

A colourful board book in the shape of a Christmas Tree will have instant appeal to young readers. The book takes the reader on a countdown from ten to one, as each page shows the tree in an every increasing amount of decoration. On the left hand side of each double page is a view from the window, with some decorations appearing later in the countdown. Children will love picking out the bevy of animals shown as the pages are turned. They will love the increasing number of decorations appearing on the tree and the presents building up at its base.

Under the window on the left hand side are rhyming lines showing the additions to expect when looking at the tree.

Apart from learning the numbers, from ten bobbles down to one star, children will have experience in prediction, observation and reading along with the adult. They will be able to look at the customs of Christmas in Australia, pointing out the range of decorations added to the tree.

And all wrapped in a a strongly produced board book, ready for a large amount of use by little fingers and hands.

Themes: Christmas, Christmas Tree, Decorations, numbers.

Fran Knight