Amelie and Nanette: Snowflakes and fairy wishes by Sophie Tilley

Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408836644
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Best friends Amelie and Nanette are really looking forward to Christmas. Together they make paper chains, write Christmas cards, wrap presents, make yummy scrummy snowflake fairy cakes and decorate the tree. But even better than doing all those things that mean Christmas is coming, is doing them with your best friend. The girls are so busy that they don't notice that it is snowing, but when they do discover it they're outside in a flash having so much fun making the biggest snowman, jumping and rolling around in it, throwing snowballs and making snow angels. Nanette is so excited that she goes out without her winter woolly warms on. And sadly, instead of making her fairy costume for the school Christmas play, she ends up in bed with a cold, too sick to take part in anything. But what are best friends for?
This is an enchanting story about friendship and the joy of having a best friend. Tilley's illustrations are as gentle and subtle as the story offering a package that all young children will relate to. Why can't you put cardboard antlers on your dog when you're in need of a reindeer?
This book is about what really is the true meaning of Christmas - celebrating love and friendship and being there for those who really matter. And with other Amelie and Nanette stories coming (Sparkly shoes and picnic parties) the girls are likely to become favourite characters of this age group.
Barbara Braxton