As always, O'Brien are releasing some fabulous picture books for this Christmas! I couldn't separate them, so I've popped them all together here - I hope you enjoy!
Nowhere for a Ghost to Sleep - Erica McGann and Clive McFarland
Little Ghost is very sleepy.
She looks everywhere for a bed to sleep:
in a house, in a barn, on a boat - even on the moon.
But everyone everywhere is too afraid of ghosts to let her in!
Until the little ghost finds a very special place ...
Poor Little Ghost is exhausted, but everywhere she tries to sleep someone scares her away - until she finds exactly the right place. The story is sweet and the sparse pictures focus attention on the characters, with some fun easter eggs hidden that children will love to point out! This is destined to be a year round favourite, not just for Halloween but all the time.
The Amazing Jam! by Shona Shirley Macdonald
Grub the cat loves to travel the world, jamming with his band.
He wants to try something new, so he decides to enter a jam-making competition.
Singing crazy music as the jam bubbles, has Grub created the most amazing jam ever?
This is a much more fantastical one, and given the last one featured a tired ghost that's saying something! But there's a lot more whimsy and movement in this book, with bright colours and plenty going on in each spread. Shona Shirley Macdonald's artwork always has a touch of folklore even if, as in this case, it's about singing jars of jam. Kids will love the wackiness of it, and the message about doing what you love will slide quietly in.
Aggie Witchfinder by Sarah Hannah Walsh
Aggie Witchfinder and her daddy set out to find witches - but they're in for a BIG surprise!
The daring duo try everything they can think of to find a witch. But it's no use - witches must be TOO good at hiding ... or maybe a witch is closer than they think!
Look at that cover; it's the most autumnal book ever! This is a more cartoony style of illustration, with bold lines and pastel colours. Children will love spotting the answer before Aggie and her father do, and they'll demand a reread before the first one is even finished! A lovely, non spooky Halloween read, and great for any time of the year.
A Wexford Fairytale by Amy Devereux and Lauren O'Neill
Blathnaid has a very special talent - she can match anyone with the perfect book.
But when a ferocious Beast appears in her lovely library, what can Blathnaid do?
She searches for the answer in the Opera House, the Heritage Park, Dunbrody Famine Ship, Hook Lighthouse ... all over Wexford!
Full disclosure, I know the author of this one, but that didn't affect my review! O'Brien's popular (City) Fairytale series moves to Wexford, with this version of Beauty and the Beast owing a little to Disney, a little to Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and mostly its own thing. The trip around the city's landmarks is worked in perfectly, and the illustrations add a feeling of joy even when they're failing at saving the Beast. (Don't worry, there's a happy ending!) This is a brilliant melding of the fairytale and the author's love of Wexford, and as I write this it's the fourth bestselling children's book in Ireland!
VIBE CHECK
Colour palette: Autumn gold, soft pastels, Halloween purple, bright jam-jar colours and the warm colours of a well-loved storybook.
Soundtrack: A sleepy ghost's gentle footsteps, a band playing gloriously ridiculous music, children giggling over a hidden witch, and the rustle of pages in a magical library.
Season: Autumn into Christmas, with enough magic to last all year.
Mood: Cosy, playful, mischievous, colourful and full of wonder.
Scent: Old books, autumn leaves, sweet jam and the comforting smell of a library.
Texture: Smooth picture-book pages, soft blankets, sticky jam, fluffy ghostly shapes and the crisp leaves of an autumn walk.
There's still a few surprises to come from O'Brien this season, but if you're looking for some Christmas ideas, this is a great start.
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