What was your first impression?
I do love a beautiful hardback children’s book. The cover illustration is of a
small dog looking at a swirling snow scene. You just know the story inside is
going to be beautiful and simple, yet evocative. Barnabas do some great
children’s books too, so I had high hopes.
What's it about?
This is the story of a little dog called Christmas who goes missing on
Christmas Eve. The homeless little boy who owns him together with two other
children go to look for Christmas. There follows a search for Christmas. They
ask people where Christmas is and the people, not knowing they mean a dog,
direct them to all sorts of empty yet Christmassy places like bustling
department stores with children fighting over toys, until they find where
Christmas really is…in a church hall where volunteers are giving homeless
people a hot meal and somewhere warm to be. There the dog called Christmas is
also. The story of Mary and Joseph not being able to find somewhere to stay is
cleverly woven into the story too.
What did you like about it?
I really liked the way the author had chosen to show sides of Christmas not
usually acknowledged, particularly in children’s books. We see children
fighting over toys and cross parents, we see people celebrating winter without
the true meaning of Christmas and we see homeless people needing a hot meal and
somewhere warm. Yet despite, or perhaps because of, this the true meaning of
Christmas shines out ever more brightly.
What didn't you like?
Nothing.
What will you still remember a year from now?
I will remember the way different sides of Christmas are shown yet this remains
the most wonderful of Christmas books, one of the best I have seen. I would buy
this as a gift. My almost six year old son remembers the bit where the dog is
sitting under the table with a sausage sticking out of the sides of his mouth,
he thought that was ‘really cute’.
Who would you recommend this book to?
I would recommend this book to anyone who knows a child under the age of eight.
Also, this sort of story could be used in church contexts to highlight to
children that Christmas isn’t all presents and nice food.
Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?
At the top of the escalator, the children pushed their way through the crowds
gathered around their favourite toys. Two children were arguing over a robot. ‘I
saw it first!’ said one, pulling at the legs. ‘Dad said I could have it,’
yelled the other, tugging at it’s head. ‘Put it back, both of you!’ ordered
their father, his face bright red with annoyance. ‘Come on, Mia!’ sais Benny,
taking her hand. ‘Christmas obviously isn’t here. Let’s go back outside!’
As they opened the door, light and warmth flooded out
and a delicious smell of hot sausages wafted under their noses. Men and women
of all ages, dressed in warm coats, jumpers and shawls, sat at a long table
decorated with bowls of oranges. They were tucking into plates of steaming food
served by a team of church helpers.
review by Hilary
|
