Category

Christmas

Suzie’s Christmas Time By Charlotte Olson & Nick Roberts

Posted by - No Comments

Suzie's Christmas TimeOur whole family is very excited about Christmas this year. Previously Ivy has been a little too young to grasp what was going on, but having just turned 3 she’s starting to understand the concept and is finding the whole thing really magical!

This lovely book is perfect for her right now as it introduces lots of different aspects of a modern Christmas and shows her what she can expect over the coming weeks.

In the story, little Suzie can’t wait for Christmas to arrive. We see her start opening the doors on her advent calendar and write a letter to Santa. She visits a garden centre with her parents to choose a tree and then they all decorate it together. On Christmas Eve she hangs up her stocking and leaves a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. The next morning she wakes up early and runs downstairs in excitement. Will Santa have been?

Continue Reading…

The Night Before Christmas By Clement C. Moore & Mark Marshall

Posted by - No Comments

The Night Before ChristmasOur bedtime book this evening was this beautiful classic.

It’s the night before Christmas, everything is ready for the big day and everyone is sound asleep. But then a little boy wakes up to a sound outside and heads to his bedroom window to see what is going on. Could it possibly be Santa and his Reindeer in the garden?

There are lots of different picture book versions of this classic poem but I’d definitely recommend this one as the illustrations are gorgeous.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2C0R7Pr

Father Christmas By Raymond Briggs

Posted by - No Comments

Father ChristmasIvy is a bit young to fully appreciate this one yet but she loves the pictures, which is why I’m including it in our selection of Christmas books.

Receiving presents from Santa is obviously fantastic but Raymond Briggs flips this on its head and tells the story of Christmas from Santa’s point of view – and it looks like hard work!

He has to roll out of bed, feed his deer, have his breakfast, get dressed up in his Santa outfit, hook up his sleigh, brave terrible weather and travel the world delivering presents, all whilst dealing with the fact he’s coming down with a cold. Poor Santa!

The story is predominantly told in pictures, allowing you to ‘read’ it to your child however you like.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2pi9SuM

Mog’s Christmas By Judith Kerr

Posted by - No Comments

Mog's ChristmasPreparations for Christmas are underway at Mog’s house and he is not a happy cat.

Everyone is busy, there are too many people in the house and to top it all off someone has brought a tree in to the living room. A tree!

He escapes to the roof but it begins to snow and he soon gets cold.

Will Mog’s family be able to coax him down and show him just how lovely Christmas can be?

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BTJ49D

Stick Man By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

Posted by - No Comments

Stick ManPoor Stick Man. All he wants to do is go for a little jog but everyone interferes and he ends up on an epic adventure trying to get back to his family.

First a dog uses him as a stick, then a little girl uses him as a pooh stick, then a swan weaves him in to her nest, then a dad uses him as a flag mast for a sand castle…

As Christmas approaches he worries that he won’t reach his family, but a chance encounter with Santa might just get him home on time.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2B1kuQa

How Many Sleeps Till Christmas? By Mark Sperring & Sebastien Braun

Posted by - No Comments

How Many Sleeps Till Christmas?Little Pip is very excited about Christmas but as he’s only tiny his concept of time is a little off. Every morning he wakes up Daddy Grizzle convinced that it is Christmas Day – but there are still 4 more sleeps to go.

Daddy Grizzle manages to fill the days with lots of festive activities – choosing a tree, writing cards, wrapping presents – and shows Little Pip that the build up to Christmas can be just as exciting as the day itself.

Super cute, with lovely illustrations.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CVtub0

Dear Santa By Rod Campbell

Posted by - No Comments

Dear SantaDear Santa is a little classic for smaller toddlers. Following in the tradition of Dear Zoo there is a little present hidden under a flap on each page – however this time it’s Santa trying to choose the perfect gift.

Will he send a toy car? No – too small! 
Will he send a kite? No – too big!

What will end up being the perfect present?

Ivy loves the excitement of revealing what’s behind the flaps – and the gift on the final page might just be a tiny bit fluffy!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2yu2WKr

The Snowman By Raymond Briggs

Posted by - No Comments

The SnowmanOur book for today is The Snowman because this morning Ivy experienced her first snow!

This classic book tells the story of a young boy who wakes one day to discover it’s snowing and runs outside to make a snowman. Later that night he slips from his bed and goes outside to check on his snowy friend, only to discover that he has magically come alive. Together they set off on a beautiful adventure and soar through the night skies.

The story is told entirely through pictures – there is no text. This allows you to adjust the story, detail and speed to your own child, and also gives you control over how you handle the tear-jerking ending.

Ivy loves the illustrations – and I’m looking forward to when she’s a little older and can try to tell me the story herself, based on her own interpretation of the pictures.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2yXrIq1

The Jolly Christmas Postman By Janet & Allan Ahlberg

Posted by - No Comments

The Jolly Christmas PostmanThis one is a must for fans of the original Jolly Postman book. This time around the postman is delivering Christmas post to all of your favourite nursery rhyme characters – and eating a lot of mince pies along the way!

Along with the lovely story and the detailed illustrations you get the added bonus of being able to open all the envelopes to see what’s inside.

Ivy loves pulling out the little cards and pretending to read them.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2iBWBY3

Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer By Nicola Killen

Posted by - No Comments

Ollie's Christmas ReindeerOur Christmas tree is going up tonight so it seems appropriate to review our first festive book!

I love Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer by Nicola Killen because, instead of focusing on Santa and presents, it is all about the magic of Christmas. Ivy loves the beautiful pictures and she especially likes the little cut out sections which allow you to peek from one page to the next.

The story is about a little girl called Ollie who is awakened one night by the sound of bells. Mesmerised by the snow she sees outside her window, she decides to follow the sounds to see where they lead. She finds herself in a wood and spies a collar dangling on a tree.

Is that a Reindeer she sees in the distance? Adventure awaits!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BE2wEb