Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle
Author/Illustrator: Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King
Publisher: ABC Books
ISBN: 9780733322495
Format Hardback
RRP: $24.95
This is a beautiful Australian interpretation of the nativity story written with charm and superb prose. The Shepherds are a neighbouring family; the three wise men are replaced by three elderly aunties who bring plum pudding, shortbread and a crate of fruit; and the heralding angels are exchanged for a flock of cockatoos.
Applesauce, a pet pig, tries to find the true meaning of Christmas as he watches over the bushfire- ravaged land before him. As his owners welcome a new baby to their family he learns that new life, hope and joy can come at the saddest of times.
Tea and Sugar Christmas
Author: Jane Jolly
Illustrator: Robert Ingpen
ISBN:9780642278630
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: NLA Publishing, November 2014
RRP: $24.99
This one is a true and historical Australian Christmas story that will warm the cockles of your heart and help you remember the wondrous Christmas is for children.
Tea and Sugar Christmas is based on the Trans-Australian Railway train that would travel across the Nullarbor Plain servicing settlements with provisions, meat, medical staff and bank services. Once a week settlers could fill their wheelbarrows and stock up, and once a year Santa would ride the carriages and bring gifts for each of the children.
Black and white pages fold out to reveal exquisite large-scale colour illustrations by renowned illustrator, Robert Ingpen. The book features photos and images taken during the Sugar and Tea Train era. It truly provides an insight into an interesting aspect of Australian history.
The Little Dog and the Christmas Wish
Author: Corinne Fenton
Illustrator: Robin Cowcher
ISBN: 9781742032368
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Black Dog Books, October 2014
RRP: $24.95
Little Dog gets lost on Christmas Eve. He walks past many Melbourne landmarks in his efforts to find his way home to his best friend, Jonathan.
John Williamson’s Christmas in Australia
Author: John Williamson
Illustrator: Mitch Vane
ISBN: 9780670077724
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Australia, September 2014
RRP: $19.99
If you spend your entire Christmas Day trying to get the family together for a photo, then you’ll love this new Australian Christmas book. Mitch Vane has very fittingly illustrated the lyrics of John Williamson’s iconic Australian Christmas song, ‘Christmas Photo’ with comical illustrations. Look out for the family antics in the background illustrations on each page.
Deck the Shed with Bits of Wattle
Authors: Colin Buchanan and Greg Champion
Illustrator: Glen Singleton
ISBN:9781743620427
Format: Hardcover with CD
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2014
RRP: $19.99
Written and sung to the tune of ‘Deck the Halls’, Syd the Echidna’s shed, decorated with gum leaves and wattle, is ruined by a cyclone. The local Australian animals pitch in to surprise Syd on Christmas morning with a tin shed that is decked like no other.
Blossom Possum and the Christmas Quacker
Author: Gina Newton
Illustrator: Christina Booth
ISBN: 9781742839592
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, November2013
RRP: $19.99
This is a sequel to Blossom Possum- The Sky is Falling Down under, an Australian adaptation of the popular fable, The Sky is Falling. Blossom Possum and her Australian animal friends return in this cumulative tale to wake Koala Claws from his sleep and save their Bush Christmas.
A Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Christmas
Author: Mark MacLeod
Illustrator: May Gibbs
ISBN: 978-1742830223
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2013
RRP: $19.99
This is such a beautiful Australian Christmas tale featuring original illustrations by May Gibbs. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie approach the Christmas season quite differently. Even though it’s Cuddlepie who works hard to organise the best Christmas, it is Snugglepot who saves the day and fixes the Christmas bush that is spoiled by the sneaky Mrs Snake.
We Wish You a Ripper Christmas
Authors: Colin Buchanan and Greg Champion
Illustrator: Roland Harvey
ISBN 978-1742837239
Format: Hardcover and CD
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2013
RRP: $19.99
Written to the tune of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ and complete with Aussie slang and bush terminology is this song/story with an Aussie twist. Koalas decorate their gum trees with tinsel, emus play cricket, dingos wrap bright coloured thongs and galahs play electric guitars.
Santa’s Secret
Author: Mike Dumbleton
Illustrator: Tom Jellett
ISBN: 978-1742752396
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House Australia, November 2012
RRP: $19.95
This is a fun, light-hearted book, and Mike Dumbleton gives us a fictional glimpse into what Santa does during his free time. I can’t give his secret away, but I can give you a few clues. He travels to Australia during his winter break and has fun joining the locals in a leisurely activity.
Christmas Wombat
By Jackie French and Bruce Whately
ISBN:978-0732291716
Format: Hardback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia), September 2011
RRP A$24.99
This is a Christmas book that will make all family members giggle. Everybody loves Christmas time, but for Mothball it’s still all about scratching, sleeping and carrots.
Only Mothball the Wombat could ignore all the Christmas festivities in favour of carrots. She finds a cosy place to nap aboard Santa’s sleigh and finds herself travelling the world on Christmas Eve.
She battles reindeers, pigeons, toucans and polar bears for carrots but arrives home feeling completely satisfied and looking forward to the reindeer’s next visit.
Santa’s Aussie Mix-up
Colin Buchanan and Simon Swinger
ISBN:978-1742830070
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, October 2011
RRP: A$19.99
Written and sung to the tune of ‘Advance Australia Fair’, this funny story sees Santa asking for help to fill his Christmas stockings. ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ calls each Australian animal. One by one, they all fail miserably. Santa eventually gives Emu and Kangaroo the job. Together they create the biggest present mix-up Australia’s ever seen.
The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas
Author/Illustrator: Heath McKenzie
Publisher: Black Dog Books (Walker Books)
ISBN: 9781921167317
Format: Hardback
RRP: $14.99
This is a funny Australian rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. All starts off quite romantic with a kookaburra up a gum tree, but with penguins licking ice-creams, flies hanging around mince pies and emus playing football it all becomes a bit of a ruckus. This will be a hit with kids that like a bit of silliness.
Suitable for ages 2+ (★★★★)
Also available as a Board Book: ISBN: 9781742031118, Age suitability 1+ , RRP: $12.99
Wombat Divine
Author/Illustrator: Mem Fox and Kerry Argent
Publisher: Omnibus Books
ISBN: 9781862918412
Format: Paperback
Age suitability: 4+
RRP: $15.99
Wombat loves the Nativity Play so much that he tries out for every part, but he doesn’t seem to be right for any of them. Luckily, wise Emu knows the perfect role for a sleepy wombat, and it’s the best Nativity Play ever.
An Aussie Day Before Christmas
Author: Kilmeny Niland
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781741690972
Format: Hardback
RRP: $15.99
In this fun and colourful book children discover how Santa would prepare for Christmas Eve if he lived in Australia. He wears shorts and a singlet; eats a breakkie of snags, toast and honey; and he piles his sacks full of pressies into his old ute that is pulled by ‘roos.
Suitable for ages 2+ (★★★)
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK BE SURE TO BAKE SANTA A SPECIAL AUSSIE SNACK THIS CHRISTMAS
Also available as a Board Book, ISBN: 978-1741695090, Age suitability: 0-2, RRP: $9.99
An Aussie Night Before Christmas
Author/Illustrator: Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781865046532
Age suitability: 3+
RRP: $15.99
Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents. Every line of this traditional verse has been remodelled with Aussie references. The gentle illustrations are packed with familiar icons cleverly woven into the visual narrative to recreate the warm, comforting, family atmosphere that Christmas is all about.
Also available as a Board Book: 9781741691122, Age suitability 1+, RRP: $9.99
Santa’s Aussie Holiday
Author/Illustrator: Maria Farrer and Anna Walker
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781741690187
RRP: $15.99
After a night travelling the world, Santa takes a well-earned break and heads to Australia for a holiday. He has an adventrue travelling to the landmarks of the country and enjoying some iconic Aussie activities.
Suitable for ages 2.5+ (★★★★)
Also available at a Board Book, ISBN: 9781741695106, Age suitability 1+, RRP: $9.99
Aussie Jingle Bells (with CD)
Author/Illustrator: Colin Buchanan and Nick Bland
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9781865049700
Format: Hardback with CD
Age suitability: 3+
RRP: $19.99
One of the world’s best-loved Christmas carols is given a hilarious Aussie twist. ! Nick Bland’s comical illustrations show the whole family enjoying Christmas Day: see who you can recognise!
A Bush Christmas
Author/Illustrator: C J Dennis and Dee Huxley
Publisher: Black Dog Books (Walker Books), October 2011
ISBN: 9781742032078
Format: Paperback
RRP: $16.95
Written in 1931 by C.J. Dennis and whimsically illustrated by Dee Huxley, A Bush Christmas humorously attempts to tell the story of an Australian Christmas, with mothers unable to stray from a cooked lunch despite the dry, sweltering heat and children listening to stories of white, snowy Christmases.
Suitable for ages 5+ (★★★★)
