Little Tiger Press ISBN 9781848696938 £12.99
A charming and unique festive book which stands out from others with its clever die-cut cover and warm Christmassy illustrations featuring hidden flaps and doors and effective cut outs letting you peep through to scenes on previous and future pages. It tells the heartfelt tale of Mia, a young girl separated from her father at Christmas time. Sad that her card won’t reach him in time she comes across a magical letter box that transports her to a secret world inside where she rides on a reindeer’s back to meet her father and hand over her card. When she has to leave her dad, she steps back on to the pavement of the real world where time has, of course, stood still and her mum is still waiting for her. As well as the lovely illustrations and visual effects the story is told with a flourish of beautiful language with the words carefully chosen to create images, smells and feelings like ‘Cinnamon, sugar and smoky wood. Where reindeers snuffle, stones skitter, and paper stars lit every street.’ A recommended Christmas read for lovers of quality words and mesmerizing illustrations and for children from 3 to 9 years.
Jane Macleod, Primary Teacher, Fairfield Primary, Penarth