Archive | December 2017

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas Surprise

Dec5

 

 

 

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas Surprise

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas Surprise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas Surprise

Mark Carthew

Simon Prescott

New Frontier, 2017

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781925059991

On the first of December Marigold Mouse found a rather large box at the front of her house.  As she struggled to lift it inside branches and baubles fell out fueling her curiosity. But a letter from her mother soon solved the mystery – it was the family Christmas tree with all the traditional decorations that had been on it and held so much love and so many memories for Marigold’s family. 

Seeing her friend Marvin Mouse looking a little lonely and forlorn next door, she invites him in to help her to decorate the tree. And as they work together memories are unwrapped and revisited and shared as the tree begins to take shape until everything is complete and it lights up the night.

Told in gentle rhyme, this story is not only about the tradition of putting up the tree and reliving memories but also about sharing the times with those we love or who are feeling not-so as the festive time draws now.  It’s lovable characters, recognisable story line and bright illustrations will really appeal to youngsters on the Christmas Countdown and perhaps inspire them to think more deeply of the significance of those special decorations.

I Went to See Santa

Dec4

 

 

 

I Went to See Santa

I Went to See Santa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Went to See Santa

Paul Howard

Bloomsbury, 2017

32pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781408844724

It’s a classic scenario of little ones and their need to be just that bit better than their friend.  So when the little girl announces that she went to see Santa and got a pair of Christmas glasses, her friend says well he not only got Christmas glasses but also an amazing magic set!

And so it goes on and on, getting more and more fabulous until the most unexpected end!

Young children love stories like this where they can not only join in but also help the ageing, forgetful adult remember all the things in the list.  

If you share this with more than one, prepare for a rollicking, raucous time that will bring joy and delight and an affirmation that stories and books and reading are FUN!

How Many Quacks till Christmas?

Dec3

 

 

 

How Many Quacks Till Christmas?

How Many Quacks Till Christmas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Many Quacks Till Christmas?

Mark Sperring

Ed Eaves

Bloomsbury, 2017

32pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781408871089

It’s nearly Christmas on Merry Farm and the animals are getting excited.  As Puppy prances around the farm,  he is asked by all the animals how long they have to wait. The piglets, lambs, foals, calves, even the ducks are all asking…

‘How many quacks till Christmas?’
the ducklings want to know.

‘How many quacks till Christmas?’
and ‘Quack, will there be snow?’

Does Puppy have the answer?  Is it a lot of oinks, baas, neighs, moos and quacks  or not so many? Who knows?  Aha! Mr Cockerel does!

With its bold, bright illustrations, rhyming text and a familiar storyline of waiting till the BIG day, this is a delightful story for young readers that they will relate to.  Perfect for the Christmas Countdown, they can start their own calendar of sleeps which in turn, can help them begin to understand that elusive concept of time!And if their calendar comprises a story a night, even better!

 

All The Way Home

Dec2

 

 

 

All The Way Home

All The Way Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All The Way Home

Debi Gliori

Bloomsbury, 2017

32pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781408872079

Father Penguin has a secret, one that Mother Penguin can never know but which he tells Little One…

When penguin eggs are laid, the mothers go out to sea fishing leaving the fathers to huddle together to keep the eggs warmed balanced on their feet.  But they don’t eat and Father Penguin was very hungry.  He had had nothing to eat at all  – not a thing – and so he gradually makes his way to the outside of the Dad Huddle when suddenly a huge gust of Antarctic wind plucks him and his precious egg off the ice…

And the adventure begins.  Faced with a foreign environment, unfriendly creatures and a desperation to be home before Mother Penguin discovers him gone, he is beginning to get very worried.  Then help arrives from an unexpected source,  the Special Air Navigation Transport Authority …

Debi Gliori always tells a fine tale and illustrates it beautifully in a style that is so appealing to young readers and this one is no different.  Littlies will love being in on Father Penguin’s secret -there is nothing like feeling you are a special confidante – and they will have fun speculating whether Baby can keep the secret.  After all, he does tell his mum that they have had an adventure and brave Daddy flew them home. And everyone knows penguins can’t fly!! Did it really happen or is Father Penguin just a really good storyteller?

Something a little different for the Christmas Countdown but completely charming.

A Christmas Advent Story

Dec1

 

 

 

A Christmas Advent Story

A Christmas Advent Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Advent Story

Hannah Tolson

Ivy Snow

Bloomsbury, 2017

24pp., hbk., RRP $A21.99

9781408889787

Christmas is on the horizon – it’s been in the shops since September – and the excitement is beginning to mount so a Christmas Countdown is in order.  This is a brightly and boldly illustrated book with lots of flaps for the young child to lift as they explore the book.

While predominantly English with snowy weather, warm clothes and skating and tobogganing dominating the first few pages, nevertheless it still features many of the traditions that we follow trees, carols, presents and Santa so young children will relate to it.  It may even provoke discussion about why in a country where Christmas is at the height of summer, we still cling to the wintry theme with the traditional colours of red and green from the holly and the ivy remaining the most popular, snowy scenes on Christmas cards, turkeys and puddings and Santa is a very warm red suit. 

A good start to the Christmas Countdown readalong.