When I love you at Christmas by David Bedford and Tamsin Ainslie
Little Hare 2010. ISBN 978 1 921541261.
Picture book. The repetition on each page will encourage readers to
join in with the language as they turn each page to find the young girl
preparing for Christmas. Wrapping the gifts, making biscuits, hanging
stars from the tree, singing and dancing and making cards are all done
on the days before Christmas, and the toy tells the little girl that is
when she loves her, getting ready for the day. But it goes on for she
is also loved when she tosses and turns waiting for the day, and then
when it comes, she is also loved opening presents, but the best of
times is when the little girl gives her toy a present.
Full of the wonderful things a child does before Christmas, and
following through the things done on Christmas Day, the book turns the
story from being child centred and present centred to the toy loving
being loved and hugged at Christmas. The presents lie around forgotten;
it is the warmth of the holding and loving that is more important. A
cute reminder of the best things at Christmas, this book will be a neat
antidote to the commercial aspects thrown at children at this time of
the year.
Fran Knight