Christmas Picture Book Roundup

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! But even better than “toys in every store”, is books in every store! If you are looking for some quality picture books about the festive season to get the Christmas spirit started in your house, look no further. I present to you (see what I did there?), the Christmas Picture Book Roundup!

Supertato: Evil Pea Rules – Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

A fun little story about Supertato’s latest encounter with Evil Pea.

Seeking to extend his rule beyond the freezer, Evil pea escapes into the supermarket. As Evil pea wreaks havoc in the fresh produce aisle, Supertato flies to the rescue, popping Evil pea back in the freezer. But within seconds Evil Pea is back out and blasts Supertato with a freezy jet. With Supertato incapacitated in ice, Evil Pea sets about taking over by turning the whole supermarket into a freezer…but the fresh produce loves the winter wonderland that’s been created. And with a little help from a hot chilli hug, Supertato is soon free and joining in the snowy festivities and the captured Evil Pea forms the angel at the top of the Christmas tree.

Released in December 2017, Supertato: Evil Pea Rules has a distinctly Christmas feel. Look out for more of the Supertato series to devour.

You can find Supertato: Evil Pea Rules on the Simon and Schuster website.

We’re Going on an Elf Chase – Martha Mumford and Laura Hughes

Who doesn’t love flaps? My toddler sure does, so this lift the flaps and find the elves adventure is right up her alley. Full of rhyme, fun and Christmassy illustrations, We’re Going On An Elf Chase is adventure through the arctic circle. Along the way there are ten elves to find (SPOILER ALERT – number 8 is really well hidden… Emma laughed at me when I couldn’t find the flap… it’s in the tree).

You can find We’re Going on an Elf Chase on the Bloomsbury website.

Macca’s Christmas Crackers – Matt Cosgrove

The world’s most personable Alpaca is back, this time in Christmas form! We fell in love with Macca and his best mate Al back in July, with the highly entertaining Alpacas with Maracas.

In this Christmas-themed fun-fest, Macca is Christmas obsessed. He decorates, sings, and lights up the street in the name of Christmas. Of course, he also wants to shower his friends in gifts – that’s just the kind of Alpaca he is! Unfortunately, Macca doesn’t have a cent to his name.

What is an alpaca to do? Join forces with the angel Al and make Christmas crackers, of course! You know when these two get together, the result is hilarity.

You can find Macca’s Christmas Crackers in the Scholastic Store.

Dear Santa – Elise Hartley and Shannon Horsfall

As a kid I was always partial to books that were more than just pages – books that had extra bits, flaps and things to discover. Written as letters to Santa, with real letters you can take out of envelopes in the book, Dear Santa was a winner from the start. The animals pen their Santa requests to form a clever, intertwined story. Mouse uses his letter to try to fix the misunderstanding from last year – Mouse asked for a car to play with but, due to poor handwriting, received a cat instead! Meanwhile cat is requesting rollerblades so he can finally catch a young mouse friend… in a game, of course. There is also the Moose who volunteers to help out pulling the sleigh. Moose are practically the same as reindeer after all (except for the flying bit). Then there is Emu, who would like a jetpack. After all, it’s not fair that a bird cannot fly and reindeer can!

Dear Santa is clever and thoroughly entertaining, with real letters for little hands to explore.

You can find Dear Santa in the Scholastic Store.

Hopping Around the Christmas Tree – John Marks and Benjamin Johnston, performed by Colin Buchanan

Hopping Around The Christmas Tree is an Australian take on the well-known song of similar title, and is filled with kangaroos, cockatoos, crocodiles, wombats and much more. The book is fun and upbeat as it follows the animals from their preparations for Christmas, through to the end of Christmas day. One can’t help but sing this book! Luckily, it also comes with a CD.

You can find Hopping Around the Christmas Tree in the Scholastic Store.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Johnny Marks and Louis Shea

In this book, the lyrics of this well-loved Christmas song are illustrated with all sorts of fun images. (The Christmas Time magazine cover asks, Who is the most Famous of them all?) Another book that you can’t help but sing (and fortunately comes with a CD). This book will leave you feeling festive!

You can find Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer here.

All the Way Home – Debi Gliori

Everyone knows that penguins don’t belong at the North Pole. But what might happen if one was mysteriously picked up by a huge gust of wind and deposited there? And, what if that penguin happened to be looking after his egg at the time?

You would probably think he would be in a great deal of trouble. And you would be right, penguins don’t know the first thing about the North Pole. Just when it all seems hopeless, a “hairy, sheltering thing” (or “reindeer”, as you and I know them) saves the little penguin and takes him back to meet a special man… who happens to live at the North Pole… and fly a sleigh…

You can find All the Way Home on the Bloomsbury website.

Excuse Me, Santa! – Dave Hughes, Holly Ife and Philip Bunting

I don’t think it is too much of a spoiler to tell you that this entire book is a setup to a fart joke at Santa’s expense. After all, farts were fundamental to the first Martha May book. I personally think it’s a really nice touch that Santa’s fart is glitter encrusted, after all, it does sound like jingle bells and smell like cinnamon!

The storyline by comedy heavyweight Dave Hughes and his wife, Holly Ife is quirky and funny, but it is illustrations of Philip Bunting that capture my attention most. His artwork is always wonderful and full of fun!

You can find Excuse Me, Santa! in the Scholastic Store.

Mince Spies – Mark Sperring and Sophie Corrigan

Crime Fighting mince pies! Surely that’s enough to grab your attention!

When the Christmas treats in the local supermarket meet an untimely demise, there’s only one thing to do. Call in the crime-fighting Mince Spies. They’ll come flying into town with their flaky pastry jetpacks. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that it is a band of misguided sprouts that have set about destroying all the sugary treats, so that they might be more loved on Christmas Day. Perhaps some words of wisdom from Santa can set those pesky sprouts on the right path.

You can find Mince Spies on the Bloomsbury website.

Disclosure – these books were provided to Blog of Dad free of charge for the Christmas Picture Book Roundup. For further information, please visit my disclosure statement.