Christmas time by Alison Jay
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781921759130.
(Age: Pre-school) Board book. At first glance this book appears to be a
series of Christmas pictures illustrating the one word that appears on
each page. However the illustrations take the reader through two
children's wonderful adventure with Father Christmas. After creeping
down the stairs, the children, dressed in their pyjamas, hats and
scarves, go outside where they feed Santa's reindeer and meet the
wonderful man himself. Santa whisks them away in his sleigh and they
have a delicious feast at the North Pole.
Alison Jay's picture are a rich portrayal of a traditional Christmas,
with objects like Christmas cake, mistletoe, stockings, reindeer and
snowmen beautifully coloured in rich tones. Children will have fun
discovering what the children are doing as well as following the little
hidden stories that are linked by the pictures. I loved the humour of
the cat and dog who are celebrating their own cosy Christmas while the
children go adventuring and loved finding the snowman in the pictures.
The one word on each page will also help increase a young child's
vocabulary in a fun way.
Pat Pledger