All I Want For Christmas by Rachel Bright
| All I Want For Christmas by Rachel Bright | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sam Tyler
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| Summary: Two penguins are looking forward to Christmas Day in this warm and well-illustrated children's book that suggests that the best thing about the season is being with one another. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: October 2017 |
| Publisher: Orchard Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781408331668 | |
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All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, filed down to normal size. We all want different things on the 25th December; some ask for world peace, whilst others ask for something more achievable like a Tamagotchi. Whatever you want, is it really the true meaning of the season? All I Want For Christmas by Rachel Bright is a nice reminder that the real reason for Chrimbo is not gift-giving, but the opportunity to spend time with loved ones.
There's a lot that needs to be done before Christmas Day. There are gifts to be bought, decorations to set, baking to do. In fact, the run-up needs a lot of work. Two penguins decide to do the preparations together and learn that just spending some time together is the best gift of all.
Children's books will often try and pluck the heartstrings. Not of the child, but the adult. When done cynically, these books are often appealing to the parent, but the child is left bored. The best type of tearjerker is one that entertains both parties and All I Want is certainly one of these. The book is deceptively simple. A parent penguin and a child penguin getting ready for Christmas. A lot of the activities they undertake may be in the penguin world but will be instantly recognisable to any parent.
It is here that Bright makes the book such a triumph; the activities are recognisable, but also fun. Children love to help put up the Christmas tree or help wrap the presents. Behind all these activities is the hidden message that being together is what is important. Bright brings to the book her usual art style that is great fun. The penguins are cute but certainly funny looking. There is also a nice double spread towards the end which is packed with loads of different things that the penguins get up to. This page is not only nice to look at, but also a good way of giving you ideas.
Throughout the book, there is a slow build-up to Christmas Day, but also the final pages that give you the true meaning of Christmas. Kids will love the excitement of seeing the penguins getting ready and the adults will get a lot out of the story's finale. You get the warm feeling of sharing a book that is all about sharing experiences with your child, but with the colourful characters and fun of Christmas throughout, this is a book that will also appeal to children. A win-win book.
This author has had some great books in the past; try Love Monster and the Last Chocolate or The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. You might enjoy Christmas Is... by Karen Sapp, but we weren't particularly excited by the book.
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You can read more book reviews or buy All I Want For Christmas by Rachel Bright at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy All I Want For Christmas by Rachel Bright at Amazon.com.
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