10 books sure to please your child this Christmas
Winter is coming and the autumn trees are bustling with activity. As the birds prepare to fly to warmer climates, curious little Robin stays on to find out how the animals who live in the forest fare in the cold winter. Because cold harsh winds were coming, Squirrel was burying his nuts, and Owl was making his feathery nest cosy and warm. This is a beautifully tender story of a little robin’s first winter, garnished with splendid illustrations.
Loo In The Zoo by Paul Cherrill (Scholastic, €8.80) A clever, sturdy mix-and-match boardbook which succeeds on two levels. It is challenging for the very young reader, who, with the aid of a moveable assortment of loos, has to decide which loo suits which animal. Penguin favours a loo seat made of ice, while Lion insist on an important throne-shaped loo. When the wrong loos are assigned, there are many ‘what-ifs?’ The subtle message is that everybody, especially the tiny reader, needs loos, which are not places to be feared.
Unlike his rabbit siblings who dream of lettuce, dandelions and carrots, Ralfy Rabbit dreams of books — in fact, his love for books becomes so great he breaks into people’s homes and nicks their books, whether they’re comics, poetry, or cookbooks. But when he steals books from young Arthur’s shelf, the angry boy sets out to catch the robber. Will he outwit the big-eared thief? A tummy wobbling, laugh-aloud book to share.
Here is a bear who has nowhere to go. So he’s plodding along through the cold winter snow. No matter where he tries to find shelter there will always be creatures to send him away. Both owl and fox prove quite uncooperative as they would not have room in their quarters. Snow Bear continues on his journey until he spots a farmhouse, and wonders would anybody take pity on a cold little creature? A beautifully illustrated,warm-hearted story.
Unlike his easy-going siblings who swim and chat and catch fish, George the bear likes to know about the nature of all things. When he finds a discarded book he sets out to find the owner despite his family’s warnings. As he looks through the pages he hopes someone in town will show him how to read. But when he saunters in, everyone flees from the big bear — except one endearing little person. Beautifully illustrated and full of laughter, this is surely a book to keep and pass on.
The classic tale is retold in modern language by Mary Webb and features Gulliver’s visits to Lilliput and The Land of The Giants. The emphasis throughout in the narrative is on fun, though the satire remains where Gulliver is puzzled by the seemingly minor disputes between neighbouring countries, just as the giants will later sneer at his descriptions of European conflicts. The illustrations are superb, especially those of the lice infested beard and the very threatening rocks by the Giants’ seashore.
Nerdy Jack Carmody becomes apprenticed to the equally gifted Captain Holloway. Holloway’s department is investigating strange lights near Litton Cheney which spook the locals who fear a German invasion. When Jack meets a confused Tom Pile his research reveals that one Tom Pile had disappeared some 40 years earlier in 1900. The story, complemented by very credible newspaper accounts and file reports, charts Jack’s attempts, under the suspicious eyes of the regular military, to solve the mystery of this lost soul in wartime Britain.
This is narrated by a feisty little girl who is constantly mistaken for a boy because of her tomboy antics such as her wild bravery, loud drumming, and her ability to win races. When she meets up with a boy who likes to play gentle games with dolls, they rejoice together, each of them openly happy with their particular fun. A kind tale that embraces gender differences.
When his father dies, young Flip has to move to faraway Mossum to live with grim Uncle Andries. Work on the farm is back-breaking, but he adapts, makes friends with his new sister Renske and a wraith-like girl he christens Ghost Girl. Flip rescues a horse from the sea and keeps it on his uncle’s farm. The farm itself is in financial difficulty, bullies make Flip’s life difficult, while Uncle Andries rails against providing for this new arrival. This is a n inspiring story of bravery, friendship and resilience.
Rapunzel lives on the sixteenth floor of a high-rise block and is bored mindless. Even a prince calling on his scooter and shouting up to her is ignored . Her aunt and other nice people became concerned about her solitary life and skinny body. Something must be done. So that’s when Rapunzel achieves exactly what she wants in her life — a job in the library! This book has lots colourful illustrations and plenty of laughs.
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