Claris and the Christmas surprise by Megan Hess

Every reader will love the adventures of Parisian mouse, Claris, busy in the kitchen making a variety of sweets for the coming celebrations. In a book full of the sounds, sights and customs of Christmas, the little mouse makes loads of sugary sweets and teeny cakes, wrapping them all in bright paper. With almost every page drawn within sight of the Eiffel Tower, readers will love the repeated image, adding to their knowledge of the wider world. Bright, sumptuous illustrations fill every page, using the colours associated with Christmas to great effect. Claris’ bright red dress, the red curtains, red cakes, ribbon and wrapping paper, all combine to give a wonderful image of Christmas and its trappings, promoting the idea to younger readers.

Claris bakes her cakes and wraps them, filling her basket with gifts. She walks thorough the snow outside, looking for people to give her gifts to. She gives them to a busker, singing carols to the passers by, then finds a group of cats taking time out on a bridge over the Seine, and with only a few left, she hears the chimes telling her it is midnight. She must get home to Monsieur and finds a guard dog on his way home. He gives her a lift and she asks him to join her for Christmas. So the three have a happy Christmas and many other people have benefitted form her generosity.

Wrapped within this story are the values of gift giving, sharing and friendship. Claris makes things to give away, taking home someone who would have been alone on this day. The book supports the idea of Christmas being a time for sharing and seeing that everyone has someone to be with.

Themes: Christmas, Sharing, Gifts, Friendship, Paris.

Fran Knight