Mr Darcy and the Christmas pudding by Alex Field
Ill. by Peter Carnavas. Mr Darcy series. New Frontier, 2015. ISBN
9781925059397
(Age: 3-6) This is the paperback version of the hardback Mr Darcy
and the Christmas pudding that came out in 2014, and follows
others in the series all named after characters in Pride and
Prejudice, which will delight adult readers. Mr Darcy is a
little duck, who wears a top hat and is busy celebrating Christmas.
When he gets a ladder to put up some mistletoe over his front door
at Pemberley Park, he spots the cat Mr Collins eyeing off his friend
Maria, a tiny mouse. He rescues Maria and together they gather all
the ingredients to make a Christmas pudding and Caroline, Bingley,
Lizzie and her sisters arrive for Stir-up Sunday when they all have
fun stirring the mixture. Poor Mr Collins initially isn't trusted to
come inside, but Lizzie takes pity on him and they make him promise
not to hurt Maria.
This is a charming tale that looks closely at the Christmas tradition
of stirring the Christmas pudding on Stir-up Sunday, that according
to the last page 'takes place five weeks before Christmas ... Every
person in the household, including the children, takes a turn to
stir the mixture and make a wish."
It also emphasises the importance of forgiving a friend for
transgressions and allowing that friend to become part of the fun.
Pat Pledger