Christmas titles

There are 58 days left until Christmas...which means there are only 9 more weekends...

So what does that mean?

The Christmas books are hitting the shelves!

There are some beautiful titles due out this Christmas - well worth a look for a stocking filler or two.



'One night' by Penny Matthews and illustrated by Stephen Michael King

On the very first Christmas eve, according to the traditional folktale, all the animals were given a special gift to celebrate the  birth of Jesus. This retelling of that tale is beautifully crafted by Penny Matthews and Stephen Michael King.

Hardcover 
$24.99 RRP
Recommended 3+ years
Scholastic Press





'Deck the shed with bits of wattle' by Colin Buchanan & Greg Champion, illustrated by Glen Singleton

'Deck the halls' with an Aussie flavour. Complete with a sing-along CD Rom this book will quickly become a favourite at home and in the classroom. Syd Echidna's shed was all set for Christmas until a wind storm comes along. What will Syd do? Join all the Australian animals as they help Syd get his shed back into shape for a ripper Christmas!

Hardcover
$19.99 RRP
Recommended 3+ years
Scholastic Press




The twelve days of Christmas by Alison Jay

Alison Jay has produced an absolute winner with her distinctive and beautiful style. 'The twelve days of Christmas' is visually engaging for all ages. Carefully explore each picture for hidden details with links between each page. This version of the ever-popular traditional song would make a perfect gift this Christmas.

Hardcover
$14.99 RRP
Recommended 3+ years
Koala Books




Santa's busy reindeer by Ed Allan and Nathaniel Eckstrom

Inspired by the song 'Ten green bottles', Ed Allan returns with 'Santa's busy reindeer'. Santa's ten reindeer are busy preparing for Christmas, completing all the traditional chores such as gift buying, delivering cards, baking and decorating. So much to do before delivering Santa's gifts!

Nathaniel Eckstrom, the illustrator of 'The ugly duckling' with Justine Clarke, has brought his classic style to this beautiful picture book. 

Hardcover
$16.99
Recommended 3+ years
Scholastic Press




There was an old bloke who swallowed a present by P. Crumble and Louis Shea

They're back! This time with a Christmas overhaul. 'There was an old bloke who swallowed a present' by Team Crumble and Shea reimagines the 'There was an old lady who swallowed a fly' scenario once again.

Children love the cumulative nature of these nonsense texts. With bright, colourful illustrations, this iteration is sure to please the fan base!

Paperback with lenticular cover including a moving image 
$15.99
Recommended 3+ years
Scholastic Australia



The nights before Christmas illustrated by Tony Ross

This beautifully produced anthology of 24 classic tales, songs and stories provide a very special alternative advent treat. Reading a section each night, in the lead up to Christmas, is sure to delight young and old. Countdown to Christmas with extracts from 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott or enjoy carols such as 'Good King Wenceslas'. Well known illustrator, Tony Ross, brings these traditional tales to life all over again. A perfect early gift this Christmas and one to enjoy for many more. 

Hardcover
$29.99 RRP
Recommended 5+ years
Koala Books 

Monster Chef

Children's favourite, Nick Bland, brings to you his latest book, 'Monster Chef'. With Bland's inimitable style, and fun rhyming text, we are introduced to Marcel, the monster that just doesn't cut it as a monster. He just can't manage to scare a single kid!

In true reality cooking show style though, Marcel could whip up a frighteningly rotten and sludgy delight!

Hitting on the fact that he may make a terrible child scaring monster, his cooking sent the fear into anyone. Marcel decides there is only one thing for it...open a restaurant!

Great fun and perfectly illustrated, Nick Bland does it again!

Hardcover 
$24.99 RRP
Scholastic Press
Recommended 4+ years 

The Ugly Duckling

The classic Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, was reimagined by Frank Loesser and performed by Danny Kaye in the classic movie in 1952. Re-recorded by children's favourite Justine Clarke, this story has been reinvented with stunning illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom.

With the help of the trumpet, tuba and the marimba, Justine's recording adds another level to this story's interpretation and characterisation.

This all time favourite classic explores what it's like to be different and the pain that can come with the teasing and taunting. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and true acceptance brings about the poignant final message.

Complete with CD Rom, this book will make a beautiful gift.

Highly recommended 3+ years

Scholastic Australia
Hardcover + CD Rom
RRP $24.99

The Scarecrows' Wedding

From the creators of the Gruffalo comes a new book, 'The Scarecrows' Wedding'.

Scarecrows, Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay are getting married. With a list in hand, they set off around the farm to plan a wedding that no one will ever forget.

A variety of farm animals offer assistance to make this a wedding to end all weddings. The geese offer their feathers to make the dress, the cows will ring their bells, two helpful mice find a ring apiece and a stripy bee leads them to a field of pink flowers. Oh, and  a crab comes scuttling out with a necklace of shells...lucky for Betty, as a necklace of shells was on her wedding list!

Deciding he needs water to keep the flowers fresh, Harry sets off on another finding mission. Leaving Betty alone on the farm, she starts to worry. The farmer decides to make another scarecrow to take Harry's place.  What happens next can only be described as a little bewildering. The new scarecrow, Reginald Rake, is definitely pitched as 'the bad guy' in the book who tries to woo Betty with his dashing moves and smoke rings...

It is at this point in the story that many a parent and reviewer have been outraged. Should smoking be depicted in a children's picture book, in whatever light it is portrayed? Scholastic, the book's publisher, has issued a statement saying that it had carefully considered the plotline, but was satisfied in the end that smoking was not being promoted in anyway, in fact it was clearly articulated that it is bad for you.

Do bad guys need to smoke to be bad guys? Do young children need this sort of thing depicted in picture books? With the strict legislation around smoking advertising, depiction and promotion - I think this is a little too close for comfort.

The other thing that didn't ring true for me in this book was the crab that suddenly appears on the farm with a necklace of shells...but maybe that's just me!

Donaldson's rhyming text and Scheffler's distinctive illustrations will still appeal to many fans though, I'm sure.

Scholastic UK
Hard cover
RRP $24.99

Grandma, the baby and me

'Grandma, the baby and me' explores the touching relationship between a young boy and his grandma. When a new baby is brought home, Henry just sees trouble... and so does grandma.

Henry find a strong alliance in his grandma - so much so that he struggles when things don't go to plan and grandma is not there!

This book beautifully explores the tricky changes in dynamics when a new baby is brought home.

Hannah Sommerville gently illustrates her first picture book; while the author of the 'Terrible Suitcase' returns with a story about what it means to be the older sibling. 

Recommended 4+ years
Hardcover
Omnibus Books
$24.99 RRP

Orion and the dark

English author/illustrator Emma Yarlett's style is immediately reminiscent of Oliver Jeffers.  Her new book, 'Orion and the Dark' explores the age-old theme of being afraid of the dark. Orion is afraid of a lot of things...storms, the sea, heights, monsters and even gran! The one night, Orion meets the Dark and together they go on an adventure to dispel all those fears. Facing all those shadowing, scary spots in the house with Dark by his side makes things just that little less frightening.

Die-cut pages add a lovely sense of interactivity to this text, while the multi-media illustrations are sure to add to an increased interest.

Check out Emma Yarlett's website for more pictures and information.

Recommended 4+ years
Koala Books
Paperback
$14.99 RRP

Oh dear, what can the matter be?

Based on the traditional rhyme 'Oh dear, what can the matter be?' this new book from P. Crumble comes complete with a Jay Laga'aia CD recording.

So what do all those funny farm animals get up to when no one is watching? You'll never guess!

Great rhythm in the text, which also allows for exploration of rhyme, simple noun groups and counting back from ten.

Bright colourful and humorous illustrations by Simon Williams will engage young children as they join in with the repetitive text.

Recommended 4+ years
Scholastic Australia
Hardcover
$19.99 RRP

Hurry up Alfie

Anyone who has lived with young children knows all too well the fun they love to have...especially when they should be doing something else!

Meet Alfie and his ever patient, if slightly exasperated (who could blame him?), father as they get ready for a trip to the park. And don't forget Steve McQueen, Alfie's ever present cat!

Anna Walker's beautiful illustrations tell a gentle story about morning routines, focusing on the task at hand (or not) and unending parental patience. Her use of various media in her illustrations give an added depth and interest to her books.

Perfect discussion starter with young children - about getting ready. Brought to you by the popular author of the 'I love Ollie' series and 'Peggy'.

Recommended 3+ years
Scholastic Australia
$19.99
Hardcover

Pig the pug

Pig was a pug and I'm sorry to say,

he was greedy and selfish in most every way.

Aaron Blabey returns with a story from which we could all learn a lesson. Being greedy and selfish was Pig's way - but he soon learned that was not always the best way!

Pig's flat mate, Trevor the sausage dog, just wanted to play - but Pig had other ideas.

Humorous read aloud book with a message and a lesson... having everything isn't always what it's cracked up to be!

Great text for exploring values and social expectations.

Check out the YouTube video with Aaron reading Pig the pug. 

Highly recommended for 3-7years

RRP $16.99

Scholastic Australia