20/12/2016 0 Comments Christmas Challenge Dec 14th - Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas MarketI don't think any reading should be considered a 'guilty' pleasure but if I have one it has to be Christmas chick lit - not too demanding but full of festive spirit! I've read a fair few this December so I'll share a few here over the next few days.
I really enjoyed this story about a small town's market struggling to survive. This book is just suffused with Christmas spirit, and it's alive with the sights, smells and sounds of a market during 'the most wonderful time of the year'. Lots of underhand dealings, family strife and romantic misunderstandings keep the story interesting and I loved every minute. Can't wait for my first mulled wine and mince pie!
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During a storm a dove looking for somewhere to lay her eggs asks for and gets shelter from a small Christmas tree on a Christmas tree farm. The tree happily shelters her and her children but in doing so his trunk grows crooked and no one wants to use him in their houses. All of his friends are cut down and taken away and he spends a very lonely winter all on his own. The dove brings her family back to visit an then eventually the tree is dug up and replanted in a garden with many other trees around him. The trees are not friendly to him and look down on him but when winter comes he is the only tree that is still green and the people that live in the house decorate him with ligts and baubles. On Christmas Eve people gather round to sing around his trunk and the dove comes back and alights on the top of him. His kindess means he will be able to live for many years in the garden without being chopped down.
The paper creations that form the illustrations for this book are beautiful and very well crafted and the story is heartwarming and novel. Young puppy Oliver isn't very happy to be left alone in the house on Christmas Eve whilst his family visit gran in hospital. The house is too dark and quiet without them, but the the pup heears a noise - thump thump thump - and bravely decides to explore and find out where the noise is coming from. Upstairs he finds presents on the bed and bravely attacks them and then he 'sees off' the snowman he can see out of the window. The noise doesn't stop so he investigates in the kitchen but all he finds is a large cold thing (turkey) on the table that he pulls down on to the floor before it can jump on him! In the lounge he has a fight with the Christmas tree but when he finally arrives in the dining room he finds......Santa who gives him a juicy bone, just before his family arrive home.
A gentle story, children would identify with the puppy's fears and the way he mistakes everyday objects as monsters. The illustrations use muted colours that portray the evening light very well and Oliver is just adorabel, dog lovers would just melt at the pictures of him. What a fun picture book! The illustrations are charming and full of colour and the story of Santa's doubt in young Harold's existence is witty enough for adults to enjoy whilst being funny for children at the same time. Santa wants to believe in Harold - after all he is the person that makes Christmas so special - but his friends have planted the seeds of doubt in his head and he's confused now. After all when he saw Harold last Christmas and he sat on his knee as usual he looked ....different. Santa is worried that it's not really Harold writing him letters and leaving treats for him, it's Harold's parents and that isn't special at all. Santa hatches a plan to wait in Harold's living room on Christmas Eve to see if the boy really does exist. This story would be a perfect read for children beginning to not believe in the jolly man in the red suit, the arguments Santa and Harold come up with for not believing in each other are very funny. . The gorgeous, jewel coloured full page illustrations bring this child's festive story to vibrant life. It is a tale about the origins of Santa Claus with a lovely message about each person having a special talent that is not always immediately obvious thrown in. In a far away land on top of the world King Kringle rules over the elves and allows no laughter, play or celebration of Christmas. The only person who can release them from this tyranny is the king's brother, Kris, who is the complete opposite of his sibling and is gentle and kind.
The text is a bit longer than we usually expect ina picture book but its still short enough to be read as a bedtime story. The pictures are definitely what makes this tale special and they certainly help to keep your interest. . The illustrations have a painterly quality and are so detailed that it's almost impossible to take it all in on your first reading. There's so much to see on each page that the inevitable rereadings would be a delight instead of the usual chore, the book is just beautiful. . What a beautiful picture book this is - full of delightful festive illustrations. There aren't many words but they manage to convey the story very well, taking us with one small boy on a Christmas trip with his teddy bear. During their fantastic journey they ride a polar bear and meet fairies, an ice queen, fairies, elves, a giant reindeer, a very large snowman and Father Christmas.
The twist at the end, when we realise he hasn't actually left home but is simply absorbed in his favourite book, is just lovely. Perfect for the very young or the young at heart, I'm very happy to have discovered it. |
AuthorMy blog is a collection of thoughts and I hope you will learn something about me from the ramblings as well as finding some useful links. I'm Bev Humphrey and I'm a Literacy, School Libraries and Technology Consultant. I am self employed so views expressed are solely my own. CategoriesAll Android Apps Authors Bett Book Giving Day Books Cats Childrens Books Christmas Christmas Challenge Conferences Dickens Dyslexia English Games Geography Graphic Novels Images Inspiration International Women's Day Ipad Ipad For Education Libraries London Mfl Picture Books Podcasts Poetry Poetry Day Primaries Reading Resources Revision Twitter Urls Video Visits Wbd Wordcloud Wordle Workshops Write Path Writers Writing YA Youtube |