Flora and Fern: Wonder in the woods by Sarah, Duchess of York. Illus. by Denise Hughes

Fern and Flora aim to put on a Christmas party for all their friends. Fern is delighted as he knows Flora is an excellent organiser. They wander together through the woods, calling on friends and neighbours. Large bags are taken to collect the many things they need to make up decorations for their house. They find mistletoe and fir cones to add to their bag. They will drag these back to the house, ready to add to the house but find less in the bag than they thought. They check the bag and find a hole in the bottom. They find berries but some are a little hard to pick, so they carefully tug them from the bush, but waken the hedgehog that lies asleep beneath ht bush. A chase ensues. He chases them away and they race back home. The house is wonderfully decorated. On Christmas Day all their friends come to celebrate the day, marvelling at the decorations in the house. Many presents are shared and Baz brings along a plate of gingerbread biscuits. 

A lovely cheery presentation of all the things that Christmas means for us all. Friends get together, food is shared, presents shared, rooms decorated. Looking at the colourful illustrations reveals all the images expected at Christmas: fir trees, decorations, presents, gingerbread biscuits, ivy, mistletoe, stars, and kids will have a great time seeing these on every page.

Being a northern hemisphere book, snow and cold are the order of the day, which younger readers will enjoy looking at each image filled page.

And classes will enjoy making the gingerbread biscuits from the recipe on the last page.

Themes: Christmas, Friendship, Decorations, Gingerbread.

Fran Knight