Christmas is Coming! 2023

‘Tis the Season by Richard Jones (Nosy Crow)

Created in partnership with The National Trust, ‘Tis the Season by Richard Jones is a truly enchanting way to embrace the spirit of Christmas and count down to the most magical time of the year. This book offers a delightful poem for each day of December with a pull-down flap revealing a festive illustration.

The illustrations on each page are absolutely beautiful. The combination of poetry and art makes ‘Tis the Season a unique and heartwarming experience for readers of all ages.

This book goes beyond simple Christmas stories and songs, introducing well-known poets like Christina Rosetti and Thomas Hardy. It’s an excellent opportunity for families to explore language and literature together, creating a special bonding experience.

This entire “board book” can be pulled out to make a lovely Christmas display on a shelf or mantle. Being able to see the entire Advent Calendar is sure to build anticipation and excitement as the big day draws nearer.

‘Tis the Season is more than just a book. It promises to become a delightful tradition that children will eagerly return to year after year. This enchanting book is a must-have for anyone who wants to rediscover the magic of Christmas and explore it in a new way. Richard Jones has created something truly special that celebrates the wonder of the holiday season.

Santa’s New Reindeer by Caroline Crowe & Jess Pauwels (Faber)

With just one week until Christmas, the North Pole is buzzing with preparations, but disaster strikes when Rudolph sprains his hoof, leaving Santa short one reindeer. What’s he going to do? The elves try their best to solve the problem with all sorts of hilarious ideas but none are quite right. Finally Lizzie, the head inventor, has got it – a robot reindeer to lead Santa’s sleigh!

Full of fun rhymes and laugh-out-loud illustrations, Santa’s New Reindeer by Caroline Crowe and illustrated by Jess Pauwels will captivate young readers. The unorthodox robot reindeer that ultimately comes to the rescue adds a modern and imaginative twist to the traditional Christmas story.

Santa’s New Reindeer is a fantastic read-aloud choice for early years and Key Stage 1 in the run-up to Christmas. It will not only entertain young listeners but also teach them the value of creativity and problem-solving.

Merry Whatmas? By Eoin McLaughlin & Polly Dunbar (Faber)

Hedgehog and Tortoise are back with a delightful Christmas story! It’s their first Christmas so they really don’t know what the celebration is all about. Each animal they come across has a different answer: Fox thinks it’s all about presents, Badger thinks it’s all about treats, Magpie thinks it’s all about singing…and decorating. All of a sudden, there’s too much pressure and this lovely pair aren’t sure what to do! Thankfully Owl comes to their aid. Christmas is about being with the ones you love.

Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar have created another beautiful story of friendship and caring. No matter what’s going on, Hedgehog and Tortoise are there for each other with encouragement and support. This is a message children long to hear. Pair this with gorgeous illustrations of these charming characters and I’m sure Merry Whatmas? will be the kind of story children ask for again and again.

Santarella by Suzy Senior & Lucy Semple (Little Tiger)

Santarella by Suzy Senior, beautifully illustrated by Lucy Semple, is a delightful Christmas picture book that offers a fresh take on the classic Cinderella story. With its gentle rhyme and heartwarming narrative, this book cleverly captures the message that girls can do anything!

On a snowy winter evening, Cinderella finds herself burdened with an overwhelming amount of work left by her grumpy and bossy sisters. Instead of the traditional fairy godmother, a delightful twist takes place when Santa Claus himself arrives. Santa, having hurt his back, enlists Cinderella’s help to deliver presents to children around the world.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Cinderella discovers a special gift in Santa’s sleigh – a pair of pink, sparkly shoes. Rather than choosing to attend a ball, Cinderella decides to see the world and help others, showing her strength, capability, and independence – she doesn’t need a prince to do what she wants to do.

Santarella is an empowering tale that not only reimagines a beloved classic but also shares an important lesson about self-confidence and girls choosing their own path. Santarella will be a perfect addition to any Christmas reading list.

Santa’s Marvellous Mechanical Workshop by Vashti Hardy & Katie Cottle (Scholastic)

Santa’s Marvellous Mechanical Workshop is the highly-anticipated and absolutely charming Christmas picture book by the queen of invention and imagination, Vashti Hardy. With fun, colourful illustrations by Katie Cottle, it is a festive celebration of STEM, creativity and the wonder of Christmas.

Lily is a girl who really needs Christmas. She’s just moved to a new house and has no friends. As she unpacks her boxes, she discovers an unusual book. It’s not like any book she’s ever seen before. The pages seem to be blank – except for a strange little creature who’s waving at her! Suddenly, Lily finds herself on an amazing adventure with Widget, one of Santa’s elfbots!

The North Pole is not what she expected. Santa’s workshop is an inventor’s dream with elfbots creating all sort of marvellous things! Widget shows her a room full of broken toys and asks for her help. What can they create with these? Lily’s imagination takes off and soon she’s come up with the most wonderful toys.

Santa’s Marvellous Mechanical Workshop is a perfect book for young readers and their families, combining the joy of Christmas with the wonder of science and engineering. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the magic of Christmas and the power of creativity.

A Very Curious Christmas by Maddie Moate & Paul Boston (Puffin Books)

A Very Curious Christmas by Maddie Moate, illustrated by Paul Boston, is a fun and informative book that offers a unique look at the winter holiday season. It is a treasure trove of fascinating facts about Christmas and the various festive celebrations from around the world, making it a perfect addition to any Christmas book collection.

Maddie Moate’s engaging writing style reveals interesting facts about winter traditions, answering questions that have intrigued young minds for years: Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? Why do we have Christmas trees? How do reindeer fly? What is Hanukkah? What happens at Diwali? Why turkey? How is tinsel made? and my favourite: How do you make a toboggan go faster? With the help of some fun characters – Nigel the abominable snowman and Puddles the penguin – TV presenter and Youtuber Maddie Moate takes children on an all-inclusive journey through the holiday season.

In addition to all the facts, A Very Curious Christmas offers readers cool experiments and festive crafts to keep them engaged during the school holidays. This book is perfect for families to share together but is also sure to be very useful for teachers who are always faced with a million questions at this time of year. A Very Curious Christmas is a book that brings knowledge and joy to the season, making it an ideal choice for those who love to explore the curious side of Christmas.

Operation Nativity by Jenny Pearson & Katie Kear (Usborne)

November 2023 sees the publication of the paperback edition of the hilarious and touching Operation Nativity by Jenny Pearson. It comes with new teacher resources and a great competition! Find out more here: https://usborne.com/gb/operation-nativity-9781801315111

You can read my original review below: