Gone is the chimney, new-fallen snow and reindeer pulling jolly St Nicholas in his sleigh. A bush setting with gum trees, possums and other native plants and animals replace the European winter scenes with eight mighty kangaroos pulling Santa’s Christmas ute.
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is perfect as a gift for Australian friends and family living overseas or to balance traditional Christmas stories which often appear in a mid-winter setting. Although the bush setting may not reflect the experiences of urban and coastal Australians, the are many images in the illustrations such as lamingtons, wattle, fairy bread and a kelpie pup jumping about on the back of the ute that readers will find familiar.
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is part of a series of Australian adaptations written by Morrison and Niland that includes An Aussie Day Before Christmas.
Title: An Aussie Night Before Christmas
Author: Yvonne Morrison
Illustrator: Kilmeny Niland
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $15.99 RRP
Publication Date: 2005
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 1865046531
For ages: 3+ years
Type: Picture book
