Book Advent – 11th December Snow Sister by Emma Carroll (illustrations by Julian de Narvaez)

Posted on December 11, 2017 by alibrarylady

A thoughtful novella with a classic feel by my favourite writer of historical fiction for children this is a perfect Christmas treat. Set in Victorian England it is a story of families, love, loss and ultimately of hope.

Snow Sister cover 2

It is Christmas Eve and for Pearl the preparations are tinged with sadness as she thinks of her sister Agnes who died three years previously. Each year to try to ease the pain she builds a snow person outside her home, her own snow sister. This year the figure is dressed in her sister’s shawl but Pearl knows that it won’t bring her sister back. But a snow sister is better, she thinks, than no sister at all.

Snow Sister internal page

Pearl’s family don’t have much money and already owe money to the local shopkeeper and Christmas will be difficult for them. Then the postman brings a letter for Pearl’s father and it brings unexpected news of an inheritance following the death his estranged brother. As her husband sets off to find out the details Pearl’s mother sends her to town for the ingredients of a Christmas pudding. Can the family dare to hope that this Christmas will be a happy one for them all? When Pearl is refused more credit by Mr Noble the greengrocer she acts rashly and events that then unfold ensure that there is plenty of drama and tension in this short story.

 

The Snow Sister internal 2This is a perfect read for the Christmas season.  I think the combination of snow, adventure, family, love and mention of ghostly events in the night work extremely well. Yet again Emma Carroll ensures that with the use of historical detail she conveys beautifully a sense of time and place. The setting, the characters and the themes covered are almost Dickensian and this adds to the appeal of the story for me.  The wonderful illustrations by Julian de Narvaez add to the enjoyment of the book. Once or twice I was reminded of the Little Match Girl and there is a poignancy to the writing too.

Finally, the importance of appreciating what really matters in life, not just at Christmas, is captured with sensitivity and care.  Without being didactic in tone Emma Carroll makes this a thoughtful and inspiring story with an important message for children.

My copy has the original cover, which I love. However the book has since been reissued with a new cover that is even more appropriate for the Christmas season.  I think this would be a wonderful stocking filler for booklovers of about 8+. It would be a treat to read aloud in schools too and at just 100 pages would be a perfect quick read. Just lovely!

 

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Book Advent – 10th December Refuge by Anne Booth illustrated by Sam Usher

Posted on December 10, 2017 by alibrarylady

This poignant retelling of the Nativity was published in 2015 in response to the refugee crisis sweeping the world.  A donation is made from the sale of each book to the charity War Child. At the time of publication the book felt both timeless and timely and sadly two years later it is as relevant now as it was then.

Refuge cover

The story is told from the point of view of the donkey and from the first words on the opening pages we know that this is the journey made by Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The illustrations by Sam Usher show tiny figures looking vulnerable as they make their way to the distant city.  The sensitivity of the text and the simplicity of the illustrations combine beautifully to make this a short read but one with a big impact. The family scene in the stable is both loving and movingly poignant.  The visitors arrive as we expect, first the shepherds and then the kings but there is no heavenly choir of angels and it feels very much like the kindness of friends recognising and celebrating the significance of a baby’s arrival.

Refuge nativity

The threat of danger means that the little family must flee to safety and as the mother prepares to leave, the baby nuzzling at her neck, the story has a sense of reality to it. So the little donkey and the family set off through the night “hoping for the kindness of strangers.” A subtle but telling reminder that Jesus was a refugee too.  As they progress the illustrations change and the family are depicted in a warm orange glow. This biblical family find refuge, kindness and a warm welcome.  The reader is left wondering whether or not they would receive the same response now in our 21st century world.

This is a book that I have on my bookshelf even though I don’t have children the “right age” for it.  I think this is a thoughtful and important book and one that probably should be in all primary schools.

This lovely story would be very special read aloud to a wide age group and would prompt discussion with older children too. A wonderful Christmas gift.

 

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Book Advent – 9th December The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski illustrated by P J Lynch

Posted on December 9, 2017 by alibrarylady

I think that this moving story of kindness and warmth conquering grief and sadness is utterly gorgeous. The text with its fable like feel is matched perfectly by illustrations of such breath-taking beauty that this has become a Christmas classic for every age and everyone. It is quite probably my very favourite Christmas picturebook.

Jonathon Toomey cover 20th Anniv

Jonathan Toomey is the best wood-carver in the valley however he is always alone and never smiles or laughs.  As he makes his way around the town he frequently grumbles and although a young man he walks hunched over as though weighed down by a great burden. The villagers don’t know it but there is a reason for Jonathan’s despair. It is grief. Jonathon does not talk about his loss but keeps it hidden deep within him. One day a young widow and her little boy call at his house. She has a request that requires Jonathan to use his great skills as a wood-carver. This request, the kindness of the young woman and the earnest enthusiasm of the small child gradually break down the barriers that the heartbroken man has put up to protect himself.

Although originally published in 1995 this wonderful book has a feel of a classic story of a bygone age. The stunning illustrations add to this as, to me, they have the appearance of old masters with their depth and use of light and shade. That P J Lynch won the Kate Greenaway Award for these in the year of publication is entirely understandable.  The combination of text and picture is wonderful and conveys emotion in a powerful and moving way.

Toomey illustration

Susan Wojciechowski’s story unfolds gently and slowly and as a reader you are drawn in to Jonathan’s world. I love the calm, quiet kindness of the young widow, Mrs McDowell, as she slowly brings warmth into the home. However it is the little boy and his insistence on the recreation of his beloved nativity figures who really works the magic. This is a wonderful way of introducing the Nativity story and the author has created a tale of redemption that is both meaningful and readable.

My current copy is the 20th Anniversary Edition which has a gentle snow scene on its cover. However it was an earlier edition that first enchanted me. The picture of the wood-carver and the boy seen below captures, for me, the essence of the story and it was that cover that caught my attention as I tidied up the library shelves. The man and the boy working together as one to create the wooden nativity figures are hypnotic. The care and guidance shown by the man and the earnest concentration on the boy’s face displayed in this picture sum up their relationship beautifully. When I saw it I had to open the book to find out more. For the next few minutes time stood still as I read. Since then I have always had a soft spot for Jonathan Toomey and the little family who saved him.

This is a remarkable and very special Christmas book. Please, if you haven’t already read it do give it a try. I’ve a feeling you won’t regret it.

The_Christmas_Miracle_of_Jonathan_Toomey

 

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Book Advent – 8th December The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Posted on December 8, 2017 by alibrarylady

This Christmas classic needs no introduction at all. Such is its originality and brilliance it is widely known and loved by parents and children alike. Why the need to include it in a bookish Advent Calendar you may ask? Well, this is why…

Jolly Christmas Postman cover

In preparation for this Christmas venture I asked my adult son which was his favourite Christmas picture book from childhood. Without hesitation he said “The Jolly Christmas Postman.” Why? “Because it’s brilliant,” was the reply. A little later I asked the same question of his brother. “Oh, A Jolly Christmas Postman, it’s got to be.”  His dad then joined in saying how much he had loved sharing the book with them and immediately recited the opening lines perfectly, lines which he last read aloud about twenty five years ago. Then three grown men sat down and chatted about “the little book”, “that great game” and “the brilliant concertina bit at the end.” That is why I had to include it. This wonderful book has become a touchstone in our memories of family Christmases long gone. It matters because it brings back recollections of very happy times and shared experiences and it takes a wonderful children’s book to do that.

Jolly Christmas Postman 1

From the opening lines when the Jolly Postman appears (him again!) this has a soothing familiarity to it. The references to fairy tales and nursery rhymes that small readers will recognise add to the reassuring sense of entering a world that you already understand. However it is the interactive element that young children find irresistible. In the days before book apps the Ahlbergs created the perfect tool for engaging children with a charming and inspired variety of treats. The card to Baby Bear, Red Riding Hood’s jolly game, the little storybook and the jigsaw of Humpty Dumpty that my sons reassembled over and over again ensured the longevity of this book’s success.

Jolly Christmas Postman 2

The final present for the Jolly Postman himself is the treat that our family remember and love the most. The concertina card is a joy and watching children’s faces when they look through the gap at the scene behind is a treat. Earlier this month I shared the book with a little girl who is learning to speak English. She loved it and examined the contents of every envelope carefully, her face lighting up when she saw each item. You don’t need to speak the language or understand the text to know that the Jolly Christmas Postman is a very special Christmas book indeed.

Jolly Chrismas Postman concertina

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Book Advent – 7th December Lily, the Pug and the Christmas Wish by Keris Stainton

Posted on December 7, 2017 by alibrarylady

Lily, the Pug and the Christmas Wish is a funny, warm and up-lifting story about families and magic, lovely for any time of the year but just right for Christmas. It is short enough for emerging readers but with sufficient depth to engage the more confident reader too.

Lily-The-Pug

In the small town of Pinewood the people are busy preparing for Christmas. This year they are doing something special to celebrate. Each person will write down a secret wish and tie it to the Christmas tree in the town square. Although nine year old Lily likes this idea she is more than a little sceptical that wishes can come true, no matter how much you may want them to. Then a strange storm blows in and scatters all the wishes across the town. Lily wakes up the following morning to discover that Bug, her pug puppy, can talk! That was not what Lily had wished for but maybe it was someone else’s wish? The Christmas magic has definitely gone wrong. Can Lily, her younger brother Jimmy and, of course, Bug put things right before Christmas Day?

This is a delightful story and most definitely a mood lifter. I sat down to read it on a gloomy, damp morning to see what the opening pages were like and became engrossed, finishing it in one sitting. I particularly enjoyed the way in which Keris Stainton managed to convey the reality of family relationships. Although Lily’s parents have separated and grandad has remained housebound following the death of his wife the everyday niggles of life are portrayed with humour, love and understanding. The story itself takes centre stage and this ensures that the book does not become one dealing with social issues and is instead an enjoyable read with a touch of magic thrown in.

Lily is an engaging character and her relationship with Jimmy, her younger brother, is a protective and kindly one. However, Bug, the sarcastic talking pug, is in danger of totally stealing the show. He really made me chuckle and added to the enjoyment of the story. This is a clever mix of the traditional and the modern with the joy of an old fashioned community Christmas mixed with today’s more inclusive and diverse families and friendships.

This is a funny, warm and charming book for many ages. By the end I really wanted all the wishes to come true for the right people! This is a lovely story for any time of the year but absolutely perfect for the Christmas stocking.

When the book was originally published in 2015  Piccadilly Press produced this interview with Keris Stainton

In order to avoid any possible confusion it’s probably worth mentioning that the book was originally published with the title Lily and the Christmas Wish.

 

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Book Advent – 6th December Christmas at the Toy Museum by David Lucas

Posted on December 6, 2017 by alibrarylady

A gentle story with bright, cheerful illustrations celebrating the theme of giving, this has been fondly appreciated by pre-school children at library storytime.

Christmas at the Toy Museum cover

It’s Christmas Eve at the Toy Museum. All the visitors have left so the toys hurry to the tree to find their presents. But there aren’t any presents there. What can they give each other? Bunting, the toy cat and ‘’group leader’’ decides that they will give each other. This works splendidly until as the final toy is unwrapped they realise that there is no gift left for poor Bunting.

Bunting has an old fashioned ”lord of the manner” air about him complete with waxed moustache and tweeds which give him a serious look but this hides a kindly disposition. It is a relief therefore when Bunting’s lack of Christmas present is resolved. The added bonus is that a real fairy comes to his rescue with a spot of magic.

This picture book has a gentle, slightly nostalgic feel to it and has a charm that has appealed to nursery age children when read aloud. The setting and the toys are inspired by the Museum of Childhood in London and the toys themselves can be found in the museum’s collection. The endpapers are lovely as they show all the toys and their names and children enjoy examining the detail in these.

tm_lost_spread_1

A short read but an affectionate and happy one that has been a hit in the school library for several years.

The Museum of Childhood, where the toys in the story ”live”, has several special events taking place over the Christmas season. You may like to visit their website to find out more.

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Book Advent – 5th December The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

Posted on December 5, 2017 by alibrarylady

It is Christmas Eve and that all important question looms large…Have you been good this year? Will Father Christmas bring you presents? Of course he will, he always does. Or will he? For twin sisters Sam and Charlie this is a big worry because Charlie has been, well Charlie has been quite naughty sometimes.

Empty Stocking cover

This Christmas offering by award winning director Richard Curtis is a delight, both funny and thoughtful with a brilliant twist that lifts it to something quite touching and really rather special. Sam and Charlie are introduced to the reader as twins who look exactly the same but as children they couldn’t be more different. Sam is always very well behaved and Charlie on the other hand tends to be a bit disobedient, sometimes grumpy and not fond of always telling the truth. On Christmas Eve as the family prepare to go to bed the knowledge that Charlie may not have been quite good enough niggles away in the background. During the night all the things that you expect to happen in a Christmas book occur: Father Christmas arrives in the garden in his sleigh, clambers down the chimney and tiptoes through the house and leaves presents in one stocking. Yes, one stocking! Father Christmas has been tough this year. A little later Charlie wakes up… I won’t spoil the fun by saying what happens next but it’s brilliant.

When I read this aloud to young children they become absorbed in the story and their expressions as it progresses show how much they understand and care about what happens.  This book would be brilliant for prompting discussions about behaviour and being too quick to judge people. It would probably work best with children of about 5 or 6 and older as I’m not sure that younger ones would fully understand the events. The question of whether people can be described as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is tackled with tact and care and I found the way in which the other side of the story was gradually revealed very well done. This could be used in school assemblies or PSHE lessons very successfully as it has always prompted a thoughtful response when I read it aloud in the school library.

I love the illustrations by Rebecca Cobb which suit the text so perfectly and as in all the best picture books add more to the story.  She has managed to capture the children’s characters brilliantly and the emotions are conveyed wonderfully.  The house looks like a family home and everything about it feels warm and secure.

The Empty Stocking

This has rapidly become one of my favourite Christmas picture books. It is a charming combination of humour, warmth and thoughtfulness which feels just right for this time of year.

Puffin Books have produced a video of the beginning of The Christmas Stocking being read by Dawn Finch which you may like to share. However I do think it’s worth investing in the book itself.

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Advent Calendar 4th December The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton illustrated by Shirley Hughes

Posted on December 4, 2017 by alibrarylady

The Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas is brought to life in this charming and amusing story of love, marriage and families.  This feels like a Christmas classic and would be a treat to read aloud.

13 Days of Christmas cover

Since her mother’s death Annaple Kitson, the oldest child in the family, looks after her father, brothers and sister. The family are none too happy about this arrangement since Annaple is a dreadful cook and nags her younger siblings about tidiness, cleanliness and doing things in a proper manner. Annaple dreams of romance and being swept of her feet by a dashing suitor and as Christmas approaches her father, when asked what he would like for a present, rather rashly, says, ‘’A husband for your sister.’’ Unfortunately Annaple’s sweetheart, the wealthy Francis Vere, does not match her romantic expectations so the children plan to help Francis win their sister’s hand in marriage. Francis agrees to their plan with enthusiasm and as the days pass the Kitson family home becomes the setting for an amusing and chaotic version of the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas.

This charming Christmas story is a reissue of a book first published in the 1970s and I can’t think how I missed reading this before. Set in an unspecified period in English history but possibly 16th or 17thcentury, this book supposedly tells the story behind the well-known carol. It has a delightful traditional feel and the lovely drawings by Shirley Hughes reinforce this.

13 days of christmas 1 Each of the chapters describes what happens on a specific day during the Christmas period starting with St. Nicholas’ Day and ending on the Feast of the Epiphany. When Francis arrives on Christmas Day with a partridge and a small pear tree in a red pot Annaple is delighted and charmed. However Francis confides in the children that as a wealthy merchant he is not used to buying single items so has bought his gifts in larger quantities. The children are encouraged by Francis’s commitment and the change in his manner but as the household becomes swamped by a variety of birds, daily deliveries of milk and visits by performers and musicians Annaple’s reaction changes and the children grow increasingly concerned that their plan may not be successful.

13 days of christmas 2

Jenny Overton tells her story with humour and I liked the way in which Francis gradually changed and his quiet and slightly serious character became more joyful. There were points in the story when I actually started to feel a little sorry for the besieged Annaple, particularly as the courtship became almost the equivalent of a soap opera for the local townsfolk. However, the final chapters and the ending are full of warmth and a touching scene between the two sisters.

The story is interspersed with extracts of traditional carols and the reader learns a great deal about forgotten Christmas traditions. This book would be wonderful read aloud over the Christmas period and would probably be enjoyed by all the family too. A lovely Christmas treat!

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Book Advent – 3rd December Short Christmas Stories by Maggie Pearson

Posted on December 3, 2017 by alibrarylady

This is a small book containing over forty very short stories on the theme of Christmas. A selection of amusing, thoughtful, spooky, and scary tales means that there is something for everyone. It would be useful for schools and a handy stocking filler too

Short Christmas Stories

Part of the successful Short Series from Oxford University Press, this book contains a selection of very short stories, none more than two pages long, on a Christmas theme. There are over forty tales in this collection, some are derived from traditional tales from different countries, some are more current and the wide variety of funny, thought-provoking, spooky and occasionally scary stories provides something to suit all tastes.

Amongst the various stories included are some offering a different take on the story of the Nativity, for example, The Brave Little Camel is a charming tale about a baby camel who accompanied the three wise men on their journey to Bethlehem. Others detail the origins of Christmas gift-givers around the world including La Befana from Italy. Famous historical Christmas stories are included too such as the poignant description of Christmas 1914 in the First World War trenches and the delightful description of the source of the much loved carol Silent Night. The folk tales about how the Christmas Rose and the Poinsettia came to be were new to me but well known stories such as The Little Match Girl are included too. There are ghost stories and slightly spooky tales and one or two scary ones that may result in having to leave the bedroom light on! However there are some jokes and amusing stories to lighten the tone too.

Although books of this type do not have a great use beyond the Christmas period the length of the stories would make this book very useful for read aloud sessions in schools. It would be a useful stocking filler for children of about eight plus too.

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Book Advent – 2nd December The Little Reindeer by Michael Foreman

Posted on December 2, 2017 by alibrarylady

This charming picture book with stunning illustrations captures the magic of Christmas and tells the story of Father Christmas and his reindeer, with a twist that will appeal to young children.

The Little Reindeer cover

One Christmas Eve the smallest reindeer is exploring Father Christmas’s workshop when he accidentally falls into the gift-wrapping machine and finds himself being swept off on an adventure on Father’s Christmas’s sleigh. Just as you think things can’t get worse for the little chap he tumbles out of the sleigh to the city below where he lands on the roof of a tower block.  Standing alone in the middle of the night and still wrapped in Christmas paper the poor little reindeer waits and hopes.

It is then that the story takes a happy turn as a young boy discovers the unusual present and removing the wrapping discovers the little reindeer. The boy and his new secret pet become very special friends and as the year progresses they spend more and more time together up on the rooftops.  Before long the boy discovers that his new friend is a very special reindeer indeed.

Little Reindeer double page

This is such a lovely story of friendship and I think young children will be drawn to its magic. Michael Foreman’s wonderful watercolour illustrations add to the appeal and I particularly like the blue wash of the cityscape on the double page spreads. Questions are raised by the story and no mention is ever made of the boy’s family or why he spends time alone on the rooftops with his birds. There is something quite heartening about the boy’s love for creatures in the middle of a large and bustling city. The mix of old and new and the differing landscapes add to the appeal of this book. There are aspects to the story that lend themselves to discussion so this would be a lovely story to share in school, particularly for KS1. The ending is poignant and thoughtful which gives the book an added depth.

I love Christmas stories where there is a twist to the traditional and yet the magic is still kept alive and The Little Reindeer does that extremely well.

 

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