Books For Christmas?

The eternal question for families all over the world at this time of the year is always
“ But what shall we get them for Christmas?
With all of the electronic gadgetry , IPods, iPads, mobile phones, Kindles and Nooks which kids decry to you that they simply must have ,why not include a few beautiful and carefully chosen BOOKS in the mix of Christmas gifts this year?
When I was a little girl of about 8 years old we lived in the country. The nearest library was 20 miles away and there was no library at my primary school.
I loved books and that Christmas my mother bought me a beautiful book for Christmas.

It was “The Shirley Temple Story Book”

At that time The Shirley Temple Storybook was a new television program for children where the fairytales of old were presented by the one and only Shirley Temple and reenacted. I absolutely loved this program so when I received this precious book for Christmas that year I was in heaven.
I read every story in that book over and over again .

Now that was 55 years ago and I still have that book!
I have read it to my own children and every child I have taught over my 30years as a primary school teacher and teacher –librarian.

BOOKS? In this day and age you might say ?
Won’t they just throw them into the corner and forget them while they spend endless hours in their own electronic universe?
Well they might for a while but I’m sure if you make sure you share the books with them first then those books might just be the one gift that they take with them through time .
A book is the gift that definitely keeps on giving.
Let’s look at some poplar new releases for different age groups.

Firstly littlies 2-5 years
I have taken these suggestions from the website
mylittlebookcase.com.au as I have read most of these books to countless children in my role as a teacher-librarian .

Blossom Possum and the Christmas Quacker
Author: Gina Newton
Illustrator: Christina Booth
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, November2013RRP: $19.99
This is a sequel to Blossom Possum- The Sky is Falling Down under, an Australian adaptation of the popular fable, The Sky is Falling. Blossom Possum and her Australian animal friends return in this cumulative tale to wake Koala Claws from his sleep and save their Bush Christmas.

A Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Christmas
Author: Mark MacLeod
Illustrator: May Gibbs
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2013RRP: $19.99
This is such a beautiful Australian Christmas tale featuring original illustrations by May Gibbs. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie approach the Christmas season quite differently. Even though it’s Cuddlepie who works hard to organise the best Christmas, it is Snugglepot who saves the day and fixes the Christmas bush that is spoiled by the sneaky Mrs Snake.

Santa’s Secret
Author: Mike Dumbleton
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Publisher: Random House Australia, November 2012 RRP: $19.95
This is a fun, light-hearted book, and Mike Dumbleton gives us a fictional glimpse into what Santa does during his free time. I can’t give his secret away, but I can give you a few clues. He travels to Australia during his winter break and has fun joining the locals in a leisurely activity.

Christmas Wombat
By Jackie French and Bruce Whately
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia), September 2011 RRP A$24.99
This is a Christmas book that will make all family members giggle. Everybody loves Christmas time, but for Mothball it’s still all about scratching, sleeping and carrots.
Only Mothball the Wombat could ignore all the Christmas festivities in favour of carrots. She finds a cosy place to nap aboard Santa’s sleigh and finds herself travelling the world on Christmas Eve.
She battles reindeers, pigeons, toucans and polar bears for carrots but arrives home feeling completely satisfied and looking forward to the reindeer’s next visit.

Santa’s Aussie Mix-up
Colin Buchanan and Simon Swinger
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2011 RRP: A$19.99
Written and sung to the tune of ‘Advance Australia Fair’, this funny story sees Santa asking for help to fill his Christmas stockings. ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ calls each Australian animal. One by one, they all fail miserably. Santa eventually gives Emu and Kangaroo the job. Together they create the biggest present mix-up Australia’s ever seen.
Suitable for ages 2+

The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas
Author/Illustrator: Heath McKenzie
Publisher: Black Dog Books (Walker Books) RRP: $14.99
This is a funny Australian rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. All starts off quite romantic with a kookaburra up a gum tree, but with penguins licking ice-creams, flies hanging around mince pies and emus playing football it all becomes a bit of a ruckus. This will be a hit with kids that like a bit of silliness.
Suitable for ages 2+
Also available as a Board Book: ISBN: 9781742031118, Age suitability 1+ , RRP: $12.99

Wombat Divine
Author/Illustrator: Mem Fox and Kerry Argent
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Age suitability: 4+
RRP: $15.99
Wombat loves the Nativity Play so much that he tries out for every part, but he doesn’t seem to be right for any of them. Luckily, wise Emu knows the perfect role for a sleepy wombat, and it’s the best Nativity Play ever.

An Aussie Day Before Christmas
Author: Kilmeny Niland
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
RRP: $15.99
In this fun and colourful book children discover how Santa would prepare for Christmas Eve if he lived in Australia. He wears shorts and a singlet; eats a breakkie of snags, toast and honey; and he piles his sacks full of pressies into his old ute that is pulled by ‘roos.
Suitable for ages 2+ Also available as a Board Book,, Age suitability: 0-2, RRP: $9.99

An Aussie Night Before Christmas
Author/Illustrator: Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age suitability: 3+
RRP: $15.99
Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents. Every line of this traditional verse has been remodelled with Aussie references. The gentle illustrations are packed with familiar icons cleverly woven into the visual narrative to recreate the warm, comforting, family atmosphere that Christmas is all about.
Also available as a Board Book: , Age suitability 1+, RRP: $9.99

Santa’s Aussie Holiday
Author/Illustrator: Maria Farrer and Anna Walker
Publisher: Scholastic Press RRP: $15.99
After a night travelling the world, Santa takes a well-earned break and heads to Australia for a holiday. He has an adventure travelling to the landmarks of the country and enjoying some iconic Aussie activities. Suitable for ages 2.5+
Also available at a Board Book, , Age suitability 1+, RRP: $9.99
Aussie Jingle Bells (with CD)
Author/Illustrator: Colin Buchanan and Nick Bland
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age suitability: 3+
RRP: $19.99
One of the world’s best-loved Christmas carols is given a hilarious Aussie twist. ! Nick Bland’s comical illustrations show the whole family enjoying Christmas Day: see who you can recognise!

A Bush Christmas
Author/Illustrator: C J Dennis and Dee Huxley
Publisher: Black Dog Books (Walker Books), October 2011
RRP: $16.95
Written in 1931 by C.J. Dennis and whimsically illustrated by Dee Huxley, A Bush Christmas humorously attempts to tell the story of an Australian Christmas, with mothers unable to stray from a cooked lunch despite the dry, sweltering heat and children listening to stories of white, snowy Christmases.

Christmas Stories for Older Children
Older children don’t have to miss out on Christmas reading fun. Offer independent readers some traditional Christmas classics or modern Christmas novels.
In the final months of the year, bookshop shelves offer a range of Christmas picture books to tempt preschoolers and their parents. There are also many Christmas book options for older children who like to read independently.
Traditional Christmas Classic Stories
Many traditional Christmas stories are better suited to older readers because of the more complex language structure or the length of the story. Younger readers can enjoy stories such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or Clement Moore’s The Night Before Christmas when reading with an adult, but they are too challenging for them to read alone.
Most traditional stories exist in a variety of reprints and editions, including illustrated versions and modern adaptations. There are often also abridged or simplified versions that suit younger independent readers. Check the text before purchasing to ensure that the language is at an appropriate level for the child.
Traditional stories (including edition suggestions) include:
The Night Before Christmas – Clement C Moore (Running Press, 1995)
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens (Walker Books, 2008)
The Gift of the Magi – O Henry (Walker Books, 2008)
Nativity stories also exist at a variety of reading levels and can be found in suitable formats for older children.
The famous 1897 editorial by Francis P Church from The New York Sun titled Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus is a short but interesting read for older children. The editorial can be easily found in a variety of forms on the internet.