What Little Miss Read – Holiday Books*

And by holiday I mean, the season, not a trip. We have two more children’s books to review on the blog today. It’s so exciting that LM is getting this chance because she really does love books and stories. She’s at the age where she likes me to read it, and then she reads back to me. Books are a huge part of her life and I know already she’s going to be an avid reader which of course is something I’m incredibly happy with. Books and reading was a huge part of my life, and still is when I get the chance. So I obviously wanted LM to get as much pleasure from a book as I do.

Anyway, today we’re looking at two books about “the holidays” the first being one about going to family for Thanksgiving, not something we celebrate over there but due to our abundance of US friends I obviously want LM to be aware of, and the other is about the 12 Days of Christmas.

Over the River & Through the Woods by Linda Ashman*
First things first, I LOVE the diverse approach to this book and I loved how while looking at the different families Little Miss didn’t question anything about colour or about how one family had two dads. She accepted that they were all families and the children were “excited” about going to see their grandparents. The book itself is based on an old Thanksgiving poem, The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day or Over the River & Through the Woods however this version is re-imagined and modernised to appeal to children today, even children that don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. LM really enjoyed that this was a rhyme and repetition book meaning she got to know when the “neigh” was coming and could join in. The story was lively and a pleasure to read, the illustrations were colourful and busy meaning she really had to look at them and explore them. She really enjoyed it, and if you are looking for a way to explore same sex families with your children, this book is a perfect way to introduce them. I’m blessed that LM has just taken it for granted that families are families regardless of the parentage.

A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas by Philip Yates*
What caught my eye first was the cover over this book. The bright colours and interesting illustration style definitely pulled me in and made me want to read it. Both LM and I are very visual people so eye catching is important to us. I did find this harder to read allowed to LM, especially at bedtime when we’re both tired as it’s written in pirate speak meaning it doesn’t flow as smoothly. However it’s very easy to understand so despite my struggle at making it read smoothly, LM knew what was going on. It didn’t help I was desperate to sing the original 12 Days of Christmas to the text and it just didn’t fit. The book was incredibly clever in it’s take on it and we both enjoyed it. The illustrations were beautiful throughout, not just on the cover and I enjoyed the pirate glossary at the back. I think it would make a fantastic gift for a pirate loving kid, as I read it I couldn’t help but think how much my nephew would enjoy it!

Both these books are new releases this month and I think they would make wonderful gifts for this Christmas due to how great the stories are and the fact they’re beautifully illustrated. Little Miss thoroughly enjoyed them and I 100% recommend them.