Here are some Christmas books published this year to entertain and amuse a young audience.
Countdown to Christmas by Evie Garland & Rachel Gyan
A sturdy book book in the shape of a Christmas tree, brightly coloured in festive reds and greens, this counting book starts with ten shiny baubles on the tree and moves down throught glowing candles, furry friends, stockings and more to ‘one star that shines do bright. Christmas Day is here!’ The cover shows Australian animals while inside there is some visual fun involving the house cat, a mouse and the food and drink put out for Santa.
Brent Turner has given the familiar song an Australian twist with instead of a ‘partridge in a pear tree’ we have a ‘ koala in a gum tree’, and so on. Wombats, kangaroos, goannas, rosellas, and more make their appearance as each page becomes progressively more and more crowded, giving the reader the fun job of finding and counting each of the animals culminating in a very busy final double page spread. Brentos has used a muted colour palette with soft pastels and a stylised illustration style where the animals all have the same big yellow eyes and similar expressions.
A rhyming story about the Santa’s other half. Mrs Claus is the organisational genius who works hard all year to ensure that everything is ready by the time Santa sets off on Christmas Eve. An amusing behind the scenes look that sheds a different light on all the necessary Christmas preparations.
Brightly coloured cartoon illustrations add to the fun. Affirm Kids 2025
The Christmas Tree Catastrophe by Emma Bowd & Matt Shanks
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house’… the well known rhyme has been adapted here to show how Kitty McCatty, while chasing a mouse, got stuck up the almost destroyed Christmas tree but somehow with some help, saved the day.
Countdown to Christmas by Evie Garland & Rachel Gyan
Mrs Claus by Renee Price & Travis Price
