A Very Playschool Christmas

By Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

The iconic children’s program Playschool has been on TV for more than forty years encouraging generations of Australians  to wonder, to feel and to imagine. Jan has worked for the ABC for many years in children’s programming and Jedda is a well known children’s book writer and illustrator with over 40 titles published. Here they have joined forces to create a timely picture book featuring all the well-loved toys from Playschool.

It’s Christmas and Jemima is waiting for her friends to arrive. She has hidden several treasure boxes around the park for them to find. When Big Ted, Little Ted, Kiya, and Humpty and Joey arrive they all have fun joining in the hunt for the Christmas surprise. Then they make presents for each other and play Lucky Dip. All the friends have a lovely time sharing their simple gifts and enjoying being together.

There is such an important message here about Christmas being about friendship, caring, sharing and having a happy time rather than getting lots of expensive gifts. Children will enjoy seeing their favourite toys in print and perhaps watching the Very Playschool Christmas TV program, available on ABC IView until the end of the year

ABC Books AU 2022