In essence, it’s as the title suggests - the tale of Santa becoming snagged on the branch of a gum tree, while the local natives try (and mostly fail) to help him down.
Eventually, of course, the day is saved but not before some very funny situations
which, let’s just say, include Santa losing his boots and pants.
Told in
joyful, masterful rhyme, this book is a gem that begs to be read aloud. Author
Jackie Hosking does not shy away from using sometimes long and
wonderful-sounding words that make the reading experience a true pleasure.
Children will adore the animal antics along with the tongue-twisting good times, and just between you and me, adult readers will also derive great satisfaction from reading this to their littles!
Nathaniel
Eckstrom’s illustrations are perfect and divine – perfectly divine, in fact. Created
digitally, the pictures have gorgeous hand-rendered elements and feel very
hand-crafted. Soft and smudgy colours run into each other and the line work is
interesting and scribbly, to create a variety of facial expressions and exude hilarity.
The
illustrations tell much more of Santa’s dilemma than the words alone do, which
totally adds to the fun of the story.
Varied
visual perspectives and delightful renderings of well-known favourite Australian
animals, make this a total winner winner chicken dinner (and I think I’ve said
it before – this accolade comes from a vegetarian).
The perfect Christmas gift for small people.
Title: When Santa Got Stuck In A Gum TreeAuthor: Jackie Hosking
Illustrator: Nathaniel Eckstrom
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 Sept 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760657406
For Ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book