Weekend Reads: 30 November 2024: Christmas.

The Pōhutukawa Tree. 

By Linda Adamson and Hope McConnell. 

Puffin, 2024 (this edition).  

ISBN 9781776957330. 

Aotearoa. Bilingual. 

Picture book version of the song, originally published years ago. 

This works better as a book than a song, I feel. 

Santarella. 

By Suzy Senior and Lucy Semple. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781801045032. 

Rhyming text. 

Great twist at the end. 

For ages 4 and up. 

Waiting for Christmas is Not Easy. 

I Love Christmas. 

By Maria Bazykina. 

Clever Publishing / Clever Media Group, 2024. 

ISBNs 9781956560640 / 9781956560664. 

Right on the borderline of being didactic. Terribly earnest and moralistic. 

Not recommended. 

Socks: a kid's Christmas lament. 

By J. D. McPherson and Anika Orrock. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781536237023. 

Based on the author's song. 

As a giver of (hand-knitted) socks, and a receiver of socks, I feel they are an unappreciated gifted - and too much maligned. 

Funny, if you're that way inclined. 

Captain Christmas. 

By Karl Newson and Tom Knight. 

Bloomsbury, 2024. 

ISBN 9781526641380. 

Rhyming text. 

Pirates who find another way, via giving of Christmas gifts, ie being Santa. 

The Muttcracker. 

By Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilive. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781398530270. 

A ballet-loving dog finds their place in the annual Christmas performance. 

The Special Gift. 

By Ruth Doyle and Carmen Saldaña. 

Orchard Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781408369166. 

Loosely Christmas, in that it is about the message of Christmas and giving. And following a star to find purpose. 

When Santa Got Stuck In a Gum Tree. 

By Jackie Hosking and Nathaniel Eckstrom. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781760657406. 

Australian. 

A cumulative rescue tale, featuring Australian animals and an increasingly undressed Santa. 

The Christmas Tree Mouse. 

By Joseph Coelho and Farah Shah. 

Puffin, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241585481. 

Who knew the mouse was such an important character in the Christmas story! 

A delightful story. 

Mr Santa. 

By Jarvis. 

Walker, 2024. 

ISBN 9781529511574. 

A one-sided conversation between a young child and Mr Santa (who is there in the illustrations). 

So many questions to ask Santa. Including such vitally important ones as whether his belly button is an innie or an outie. 

The softness of the illustrations perfectly matches the gentle story. 

Elves on Strike. 

By Nicola Edwards and Pauline Gregory. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781838916411. 

When you look at the conditions Santa's elves operate under, I'm surprised it has taken them this long to strike. 

Especially when Santa sits in his armchair, with his feet up. 

On the Hunt for Santa. 

By Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King. 

Working Title Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781922033109. 

Australian. 

Three friends are hunting for Santa. And, not the reason you'd expect. 

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle. 

By Stephanie Thatcher. 

Scholastic, 2024. 

ISBN 9781775438274. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

A Christmas grump of a cat meets a Christmas fan of a dog.