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Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Review: Why I Love Christmas

Why I Love Christmas is a story told by a young boy and covers the whole month of December, in the lead-up to Christmas. Depicting a uniquely Aussie celebration, this book is delightful, captivating and heartwarming.

In it, you will find advent calendars, street parties, antler-wearing dogs, trombone playing children and Christmas lights galore. 

Indeed, it will make you want to bake gingerbread and sing carols with those cute little busking kidlets.

The family at the centre of this book have been gifted the red-head gene (note that I’m not mentioning the quintessentially Australian word ‘Ranga’) which is a fun and interesting inclusion. 

Especially when it comes to large gatherings, with the extended family who hail from a range of backgrounds. These illustrations may elicit curiosity about multi-culturalism from some young readers, which is always welcome.

We also see the traditional holiday fare of children making cards and gifts, caring for each other and being immersed in the anticipation and wonder of this season – it’s all rather tender and beautiful.

The illustrations are completely engaging and invite poring over. Clever use of line, colour and shadow work together to evoke night-time Christmas lights, and fireworks, and people in half-light, and surprises.

Thoughtful inclusions, such as a photo of Grandpa and an empty chair at Nana’s Christmas lunch, invite deeper observation and discussion of those who are no longer present with us, in a friendly and natural way.

Children and adults alike will truly enjoy reading and re-reading this book, which advocates kindness, generosity and a beautiful sense of the FUN of Christmas.  

A joy.

Title: Why I Love Christmas
Author: Michael Wagner
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
Publisher: Puffin, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 Oct 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761344688
For Ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book