Kate Thompson and Loretta Schauer, creators of Yetis Don’t Exist have collaborated to bring us some “fantastically festive books” just in time for December!
Our Favourite Fantastically Festive Children’s Books
By Kate Thompson and Loretta Schauer
Christmas time is coming! Even now, as an alleged ‘grownup’, these four words make me bubbly with excitement! And if you combine Christmas with snow… well, does it get any better than that?
So I was thrilled when Iggy the yeti popped into my head along with his fur-tastically funny, snowy story, Yetis Don’t Exist! which, thanks to Loretta Schauer, has become a wintry book packed with fluffy yetis, hilarious visual humour and jaw-droppingly beautiful northern lights. It’s definitely a great read for winter and Christmas storytimes, which just so happen to be my favourite sort of storytimes.
To celebrate the publication of Yetis Don’t Exist! Loretta and I have created a list of some of our other favourite fantastically festive children’s books to snuggle up and read this Christmas.
Kate’s top four festive picks:
• Kid Christmas: Of The Claus Brothers Toy Shop by David Litchfield – This stunningly illustrated picture book tells the heartwarming story of Nicky Claus, who, with the help of his uncles’ magical toy shop, sets out to bring every child the toy of their dreams. And best of all, the happy ending is actually a very happy magical beginning.
• Santa’s New Beard, written by Caroline Crowe & illustrated by Jess Pauwels – A funny fast-paced rhyming story, which genuinely made my children and I laugh when we read it. Plus, if ever Santa’s beard looks a little wonky when we visit him in real life, now we know why!
• How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney? Written by Mac Barnett & illustrated by Jon Klassen – For every parent who’s ever been asked this question, this book explores some of the often hilarious, sometimes weird possibilities . We’re big fans of Barnett’s deadpan humour, so this is a huge favourite in our house at Christmas.
• Last Stop on the Reindeer Express, written by Maudie Powell-Tuck & illustrated by Karl James Mountford – This treasure of a picture book follows Mia, a little girl who misses her dad at Christmas as she sets off on a wintry adventure to deliver a very special Christmas card. Peep-through pages and flaps add to Karl Mountford’s colourful illustrations to make this a truly magical book that will be particularly touching for families who can’t be together at Christmas.
Loretta’s top four festive pics:
• The Boy Who Brought the Snow by Hollie Hughes and Anna Wilson – This picture book is absolutely stunning at any time of year, but the tender story of a town coming together is particularly poignant at Christmas. It sensitively tackles the subject of homelessness whilst remaining a magical and engaging story for young audiences – quite an achievement for a picture book! I was drawn to this book by Anna’s spectacular illustrations. She manages to infuse scenes of a bustling winter town with such warmth and light. Oh, and when it starts snowing…my heart!
• The MuttCracker by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie – A kind of Christmas sequel to one of my favourite picture books of all time ‘Dogs Don’t Do Ballet’. This brand-new book from Anna and Sara is sure to become a Christmas classic, as Biff the dog takes on that most festive of ballets – The Nutcracker! Will Biff’s Sugar Plum Bon Bon be a triumph? Lights, music and doggy sized tutus. What more could you ask for?
• The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper – A wonderful story to read together as a family on those long dark evenings leading up to Christmas eve. A little bit spooky in places, but an atmospheric, gripping adventure that takes place in the familiar, yet magical English countryside at Winter Solstice, just a few days before Christmas! And if you can get your wintry paws on the edition that is illustrated by the amazing David Roberts, you’re in for a real treat!
• A Christmas Dinner of Souls by Ross Montgomery – And if you want more spooky, silly Christmas tales to share, Ross’s collection of shorter stories is a sure winner. Somewhat unconventionally for a Christmas book, it features a cast of gruesome dinner guests who compete to tell the most terrible tale and win a prize. Each tale is unique, creepy, and very very funny! Who will make it to Christmas morning with this grisly lot
Yetis Don’t Exist by Kate Thompson, illustrated by Loretta Schauer is out now in paperback from Templar Books
