IF ANIMALS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS
From the If Animals series
by Ann Whitford Paul ; illustrated by David Walker
Over a dozen types of animal families show how they would celebrate this holiday season.
Cheerful, star-spangled red endpapers usher in a sweet story of animals all over the world getting ready for Christmas with their families. Young Koala starts things off, counting down the days till Christmas. Little Oryx enjoys ringing bells, Hedgehog uses her quills to knit “a sweater for Hoglet with fancy frills.” A beaver, buffalo, penguins, and a narwhal are all part of the fun. The hustle and bustle hints at Christmas Eve, each outdoor scene set against a deep blue sky with bright stars and a smiling moon. Koala helps Papa bake “a yum-yum leafy, Santa-shaped cake,” while at the shore, crabs “build a seashell Christmas tree.” Caroling cranes sing in a choir, a frog looking on. Soft yet vibrant, clear colors enhance the mood, as the rounded figures of the animals prepare for Christmas in their individual ways. Animal sounds are highlighted in the text: “Tortoise would tuck in his head and hisssssssssssssss, / making a secret holiday wish.” Words curve around the gentle action in rhyming text, all leading up to the arrival of Polar Bear Santa. The simple, patterned format makes this a natural read-aloud for bedtime.
A sweet, cozy book to share with young children as Christmas approaches. (Picture book. 2-6)