Christmas is coming to Australia read The Magic Saddle

 

Jonni wants a rocking horse but his family are poor and rocking horses cost a lot of money. His family live in a very small house and rocking horses need space. On Saint Nicholas' Day the family visit the Christmas fair. Jonni sees a beautiful rocking horse but of course he cannot have it so instead his mother buys him a little rocking horse Christmas ornament.

On the far side of the fair the family stop in front of a nativity display.

"But no one gave the Christ Child anything. And a little child must have a toy. So, as his father turned away, Jonni leaned down and dropped the red rocking horse (ornament) at the foot of the manger. It was just the right size for the Christ Child."

On Christmas eve Jonni is given gifts - a tiny blue wool mouse, a picture book with animals from around the world, and a gingerbread rocking horse. Jonni almost eats the gingerbread but in a magical moment the rocking horse talks to Jonni and explains about his magic saddle which can take them both on an adventure.

This is a magical story which shows dreams can come true. 

What did you want for Christmas when you were a child? I wanted a dog (and I was given one); I wanted a bicycle (yes I was given one of those too); and I wanted a wooden dolls house (but sadly I didn't quite get the one of my dreams).  As an adult, at one time, I thought I would also like a rocking horse (but as you have guessed I didn't buy one). 

The Magic Saddle is a very old book, published in 1984, and so it is long out of print but as often say here on this blog, you might be lucky and find a copy in a library or at a charity book sale. In 1984 The Magic Saddle was short listed for our CBCA Picture Book of the Year award. This book is not especially Australian - it feels quite European but the author and illustrator are award winning Australian book creators. 

I have talked previously about Christobel Mattingley and her wonderful body of work. In another post I talked about the tissue paper collage illustrations by Patricia Mullins in her books Ice Flowers and The Sea Breeze hotel.

I would pair The Magic Saddle with these two books:

Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat by Monica McInerney illustrated by Danny Snell

It is Summer. Marcie and her family own a caravan park. Marcie has a older sister who is crazy about tennis and a young brother who is crazy about his pet fish. Marcie is in the middle. This summer is a time of change because Marcie's beloved Grandmother is in hospital. Marcie has the task to look after Gran's caravan and more importantly to look after Gran's cat - George. One day Gran gives Marcie an ancient wishing stone and so the magic begins. 

One small incident in the story involves a town competition to decorate your business for Christmas. Marcie and a team of her friends work hard to make the caravan park look terrific in hope of winning the cash prize. They make hundreds of paper flowers echoing the beautiful roses which were originally planted around the caravan park by Gran and her late husband.

The council run competition reminded me of The Christmas Caravan which is a long time favourite Christmas story of mine.

The town competition also reminded me of one I read about recently in this new book My Brother Ben (written for a slightly older audience). 

Marcie does feel like a real girl in this story with her ups and downs of mood, her questions about life, her pesky siblings and her need to understand her parent's problems but it is the cat, George, who really steals the show.  

I can't highlight one special moment or plot point from this book but I do recommend it because it is sweet summer story set in Australia featuring a likeable young girl and her grandmother's very special and wise cat. Young readers aged 8+ (with some reading stamina because it is 244 pages) will enjoy this book or you could use it as a summer family read aloud. 

Blurb from Penguin: Marcie Gill hasn’t had a great start to the Christmas holidays. Her parents aren’t talking to each other and the family business – the Snorkel Bay Caravan Park – is in financial trouble. Her younger brother will only talk about his 23 goldfish and her sister is obsessed with tennis. To make matters worse her gran is in the hospital after a bad fall and won’t be home for ages. But then something magical happens. Something that involves a Christmas competition, a black cat called George and a wishing stone. Marcie is about to discover that if you wish hard enough, dreams can come true.

Here is the trailer.  In this video Monica and Danny talk about their book. Here is a set of simple activity pages.

Beloved, award-winning Australian author Monica McInerney has written a delightful and entertaining first book for children. With guiding illustrations throughout by award-winning illustrator Danny Snell, this is a heartwarming story ... Better Reading

Danny Snell is the illustrator of Somewhere in Australia; Seagull; Jeremy; and the wonderful book The Fire Wombat.

Miki by Stephen Mackey

Here is a Christmas story with a difference. “On midwinter eve when an icy wind blew the moon weaved her magic and wishes came true.” So begins this lovely book about Miki and her wish to decorate a little tree in an icy land.

Miki and penguin begin by wishing for pretty lights that tinkle and then to make it a tale for our times their wish for a power source brings a very modern looking windmill. Even though the polar bear is very strong he runs out of breath and so then Miki wishes for a star that can shine forever.

This is a moving story about perseverance and the unbreakable bonds of true friendship. The repeated refrain gives the narrative a song like quality and the softest of illustrations will be loved by the youngest readers. You can even see a little video of this book.