Green is for Christmas by Drew Daywalt illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Green is for Christmas. Green is for holly. Green is for fir trees. Wait a minute. Red is for Christmas. Red is for candy canes. Red is for Santa Claus. Hold it! What about silver? The tree will need a star and a bell. No no no. You have forgotten about cookies and reindeer - Brown is for Christmas. And so the arguments continue until they all decide (I think they all decide) every colour is needed for Christmas (especially green). A perfect text to explore persuasion perhaps?

Here are the end papers from Green is for Christmas:

My apologies if you are dismayed that I have shared so many books this Christmas that are out of print. The GOOD NEWS is that this is a fairly new book (2021) and yes it is available. Bonus - it is funny but I do think you need to be familiar with the original titles. The hardcover is less than AUS$20.  

There are so many books in this series by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers which began in 2013. In 2019 they released their original Christmas book. And years ago you could also buy plush crayons, puppets, crayons, stationery packs and even a lunch bag. There are board books (Feelings, Colours and Numbers) too for your youngest reading companion. Here are some of the other titles including two that are due out in 2023 - Easter and going to school:

The Animals' Christmas Carol by Helen Ward

"I, " said the donkey, shaggy and brown

"I carried his mother up hill and down

I carried his mother to Bethlehem town"

"I, " said the cow, all white and red

"I gave him my manger for his bed

I gave him my hay to pillow his head"

"I, " said the sheep with curly horn

"I gave him my wool for his blanket warm

He wore my coat on Christmas morn"

"I, " said the dove from the rafters high

"I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry

We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I"

"I, " said the dove from rafters high

One by one a procession of animals arrive on Christmas Eve with their gifts for the newborn child. The turtle dove brings a restful song. The lion comes to guard the stable door. The camels carried the wise men. The bees gave their wax for candles. The ram gave his wool for a blanket. And the donkey carried his mother safely to Bethlehem. In this version by Helen Ward she also includes a peacock, a moth, mongoose, cockrel and (wait for this one) a woodworm. 

This large format book is based on the 12th century carol - you can see the music above.

You may remember I have talked about the illustrator Helen Ward in previous posts. Her illustrations of animals are truly special and memorable. I love the way the fill the page.

This book is based on a real carol - The friendly Beasts lyrics and music score are provided at the back of the book. This book was published in 2001 so it is sadly now long out of print but I found a copy in a library. You can hear a little of the carol here. 

Tomie dePaola also illustrated a version of this carol:

The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg

 

I am going to use some text quotes as a way to share the flavour of this book - I imagine you may already be familiar with this classic title.

"On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets.  I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound - a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear - the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh."

"It was wrapped in an apron of stream. Snowflakes fell lightly around it."

"All aboard,' the guard cried out. I ran up to him. 'Well?,' he said, 'are you coming?' 'Where?' I asked. 'Why to the North Pole of course ... This is the Polar Express.' I took his outstretched hand and he pulled me aboard."

"We drank cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars."

"Faster and faster we ran along, rolling over peaks and through valleys like the car on a roller coaster."

"The reindeer were excited. They pranced and paced, ringing the silver sleigh bells that hung from their harnesses. It was a magical sound, like nothing I'd ever heard. Across the circle, the elves moved apart and Santa Claus appeared. The elves cheered wildly."

"Now, what would you like for Christmas?"

Oddly today I discovered I had not talked about The Polar Express on my blog. This book was first published in 1985 and I am happy to report it is still in print and in many formats. Decades ago I won a competition and the prize was a mini copy of The Polar Express and a CDROM with the story read by Garrison Keillor (old technology now). I did a little search and found the audio track from this production - it is very special. Ironically this for this competition you had to guess the CBCA short list titles and now my life has come full circle because I have been a CBCA Book of the Year judge for the last two years. 

I do wish the movie of The Polar Express had not been made - it totally misses out on all the magic of the book in my view and so many children will miss out if they never read or hear this perfect Christmas story from the book not the movie.

There are many ways to enjoy The Polar Express. I suggest reading the book quietly with your family (but not to very young children) then let Liam Neeson read it for you while you follow along with your actual copy of the book. 

If you find a copy of The Polar Express in hardcover with a dust jacket you are so lucky because under the paper cover you will find a wonderful surprise. I did find a signed used copy (mint condition) online for US$1200!! Chris van Allsburg won his second Caldecott medal for The Polar Express the first was for Jumanji. 

My only question about The Polar Express is - who is the audience? I suggest this book is perfect for readers aged 10 or 11+. You don't want your younger reading companion questioning the existence of Santa Claus. Take a look at this Kirkus article. 

Here are other fabulous books by Chris van Allsburg.

The Night Before Christmas various editions

 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

You probably know this famous poem by Clement C Moore which was first published in 1823. This date was a question I saw in a quiz this week and it made me think about all the picture book versions of this poem. There are also plenty of spoof versions but I think it is important to share a truly special edition with a young child (and older children too) before you dip into the variations. I saw one beautiful example by the wonderful Australian illustrator Robert Ingpen in my local bookshop (only $15). Here are two different covers.

I have previously talked about the popup version by Robert Sabuda:

Here are some other editions which feature this famous poem using fabulous illustrations. Just look at some of these amazing names - PJ Lynch, Jan Brett, Tomie dePaola, Lisbeth Zwerger, and Roger Duvoisin :

PJ Lynch

Anital Lobel

Jan Brett

Roger Duvoisin

Lisbeth Zwerger

Holly Hobbie

Kes Gray

Clare Fennell

Tracey Cordoroy

Charles Santore (not yet published)

Here are two by our Australian illustrators Helene Magisson and Bruce Whatley:

Helene Magisson

Bruce Whatley

The Polar Bear who Saved Christmas by Fiona Boon illustrated by Clare Fennell

 

This story is a rift on Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. In this version one of the reindeer team is unwell and so a small polar bear, who accidentally finds Santa's village and all the elves, is asked to join the team. The polar bear explains he would love to help but he cannot fly. Of course that is not a problem in this magical world. The elves sprinkle him with some sparkles and off they go.  

After an exciting night of present deliveries our little hero crawls into his den to sleep. The next morning he finds a wonderful surprise - a shiny sleigh bell. This is sure to remind you of The Polar Express. I remember when some editions of that classic were sold with a large golden bell.

This rhyming book, The Polar Bear who Saved Christmas, is not an especially memorable Christmas story but I am sure it will be enjoyed by your young preschool reading companion. Sadly, though, this book is now out of print. I picked up my copy at a recent charity book sale for fifty cents (and it is in mint condition).  You might be lucky and find a copy in a library - I do hope so. 

The main reason I am sharing this book, though, is because I do like the collage illustrations. You might notice the newspaper tree on the cover above. I have also put two covers because this book was released with a 'snow globe' cover too and I think that looks very special. Clare Fennell says "I love working in collage, cutting up bits of magazines, newspapers, painted papers, anything really, and finishing in Photoshop to clear up all the messy bits."

You can see inside this book here.

Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark

 

Listen to an audio sample of Joanna Lumley reading this book. It is extra funny because Joanna tries to make little Blue Kangaroo sound 'slightly' Australian!

I think this might be the US edition with a more literal title.

Blue Kangaroo sees everyone preparing for Christmas. Everyone keeps saying this is for you - Blue Kangaroo because it is his first Christmas but our little friend is so worried. Lily has shown him his special gift (and cards, and decorations, and even a gingerbread kangaroo) but what can he give Lily? On Christmas Eve, while everyone is asleep, Santa arrives so Blue Kangaroo heads down the stairs to have a little chat. On Christmas morning Lily finds the best surprise ever!

Here is a video of Rosamund Pike reading Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo! This book was published in 2006 but it is still available which is good news. I picked up my copy at a recent charity book sale for the bargain price of 50 cents and it is in mint condition. I will be gifting it to a young child this Christmas. 

I am a huge fan of the Blue Kangaroo series they are all perfect to read aloud to preschool and Kindergarten groups and in fact I asked a friend of mine to make me a toy Blue Kangaroo many years ago and when I left my former school I gifted him to a school library. They also own the real toy.

Here is the plush toy that was once available to buy with this series:

Here are some of the other books from this series:

Emma Chichester Clark also has another completely wonderful Christmas book that I highly recommend you try to find and share this year (especially on Christmas eve) - Melrose and Croc.