With two days left ’til Christmas, Shelf Candy gives to you – two wonderful new tales for Christmas to help build both anticipation and some magical shared moments.
Duck & Goose: It’s Time for Christmas!
by Tad Hills
Schwartz & Wade
ISBN: 9780375964841
Audience: 0-3 years
Duck and Goose are favourites of mine, so when I first saw board books, I have to admit, I was a bit dismayed, because picture book characters often have to get watered down a bit to fit the smaller, younger format well. Tad Hills, though, has maintained the same feel and subtle humour that won me over in the original stories, and I’m pleased to say that not only does this work, but I kind of love it.
It’s winter, and Goose is enjoying all the great benefits of snowy weather – skating, sledding, and so on, while the more practical Duck keeps interrupting his play, telling him that it’s not time for that. Just when you are starting to think he’s a total killjoy, Duck drags Goose far enough along for us to see that he’s trying to pursuade Goose to join in trimming the tree, because it’s time for Christmas. I do love a Christmas Goose… no exception here!
Great Joy
by Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763649968
Audience: 5-9 years
This tiny tale is not one of a major Christmas miracle, but simply about noticing and caring about people around you, people that are easily overlooked.
Frances notices an organ grinder outside of her building, and asks her mother about him. Not satisfied with her mother’s impatient response, she discovers on her own that he sleeps on the street, and takes a greater interest in him.
In the end, the story simply has her waiting for him, having faith that he will take her up on her invitation to her pageant before she feels she can deliver her important line. It’s simple, but stories about connection are about heart, not plot, and Frances has that.
The illustrations are lovely, setting the story in the 1940s, and adding a fuzzy, nostalgic quality that also speaks of the magic of classic Christmas films and warm firelight. This edition is gorgeous, and I quite love the size and book design, with its rich ivory pages, but for those who prefer, it is also available as a larger picture book format (ISBN: 978-0-7636-2920-5).
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!