Christmas at Home

Claire Saxby (text),  Janine Dawson (illus.),  Christmas At Home, Five Mile Press,  Sept 2016,  24pp.,  $16.95 (hbk),  ISBN: 9781760402952

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, let’s decorate your branches’, begins Christmas at Home. It is immediately apparent that this is a book that is meant to be sung. Unlike traditional versions of ‘O Tannenbaum’ there is no snow in sight, instead we are presented with pictures and text which capture a more typical Australian Christmas with presents, Christmas-light drive-bys, friends and family, feasting outside and sleeping in tents.

Christmas at Home is a wonderful book to read or sing aloud with children. The busy cartoon-style illustrations are fun and create a sense of joy and festivity. There is a multicultural element to this book also, with different families and traditions being depicted.

I would recommend this book for children two-years of age and older. It is perfect for reading or singing in the lead up to Christmas and would be particularly appropriate for group-time in early childhood settings.

Reviewed by Rebecca Blakeney

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