Pamela Jones (text) and Lucia Masciullo (illustrator), Ayla’s Christmas wish, National Library Australia, November 2023, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), 9781922507617
A glimmering, shining star catches Ayla’s eye.
A Christmas wishing star.
She squeezes her eyes shut and wishes with all her might.
She wishes for a great big snowman with shiny black eyes, a jolly smile and a long carrot nose.
How strange it must seem for Northern Hemisphere folk to spend a Christmas in Australia under the hot summer sky. Many European Yuletide traditions have been adapted over time to cope with our summer heat such as cold meat for hot dinners, and pavlova for plum pudding. But there is one thing that would be hard to replace here. Something made of snow.
Jones’s debut picture book begins with Ayla ticking off her Christmas wish list – a wreath, a gingerbread house, sparkling lights, a visit with Santa and Christmas stockings and cards hung by the fireplace. But how can she tick “snowman” from her list when there is no snow in her country hometown? After making a wish on a Christmas star, surely her wish will come true.
Each illustrated spread reflects the Australian Christmas beautifully. Masciullo’s colourful hues reflect each scene’s mood. Her images capture the intensity of a hot summer with a gingerbread house melting in the heat and Santa arriving in town on a fire truck. This encourages readers to think out of the box as to what an Australian snowman could look like. The endpapers also include tiny wombats, kangaroos, koalas, and a sunglass-wearing surfing Santa.
The inspiration for this story came from the hay bale decorations found around the countryside over summer. In particular, the town of Tarrington, Western Australia, holds a hay bale Christmas decorating event every year. The back matter includes photos through the ages of different Christmas traditions in Australia.
This picture book is perfect for children 3+ who wish to celebrate Christmas traditions the Australian way and learn how they’ve adapted over time to the Southern Hemisphere season.
Reviewed by Stef Gemmill
