Emma Memma: Christmas Lights by Emma Memma

Elvin Melvin and Emma Memma are getting ready for Christmas.  The pair appears throughout the book, signing significant words for children to learn and practise: Christmas, lights, look, friends and where. Each of these words is displayed in the book, showcasing the customs and rituals of this important time in kids’ lives. So we see a Christmas tree, lights, baubles, reindeer, tree decorations, and this book weaves a story around the tree with Emma and Elvin as they seek out their friends and their displays.

Christmas lights are going up all over the town. Everything is sparkling now that the sun has gone down. Emma and Melvin invite the readers to see what is close by. In the twinkling lights they will be able to find BB Butterfly. They all get into a little colourful car to see what else they can find. They will see many many shapes of different Christmas lights, and amongst them a kangaroo hops along. The Butterfly bus keeps going, and is there to welcome a friend who has arrived from a different town. And Waffles the Wombat greets them as well. Emma asks him where his Christmas lights are.

He looks up into the night sky, and tells them that his lights are there every night for all to see. They all sit together on the hillside, watching the night display, waiting for Christmas.

Younger readers will enjoy this journey through Emma Memma’s town with her friends, searching out the images of Christmas and learning some signs as they read.

Emma Memma’s infectious illustrations will bring joy to the readers, as they too celebrate Christmas and wait impatiently for the day to come around. While each section of the town is decorated, it is a neat ploy to have the group look at the stars, a nightly show of bright twinkling lights.

Themes: Christmas, Emma Memma, Friends, Christmas lights, Sign language, ASLAN, Humour, Verse.

Fran Knight