Apart from being busy with our store, there is the usual Christmas busy-ness going on around here.

Our uncharacteristically chilly weather this year in Melbourne has meant I seem to have had more time to do stuff at home than usual, which has been really nice.

I’ve decorated!

I’ve baked! (Icing yet to come…)

It’s so refreshing to experience Christmas with a 2-year-old, like it’s the very first time. When Rowan saw a Santa-shaped decoration on our tree, he thought it was his grandpa. When he sees a decorated tree, he exclaims ‘Christmas Tree – I touch it?’ When asked what would be put in his stocking, he replied, ‘Nothing.’ Oh, the purity of an uncorrupted mind, as yet oblivious to the commercialism of Christmas!

Much of what Rowan knows about the festive season at this stage he has gleaned from the books we’ve been reading together. Brad reviewed some of them last Sunday. But Rowan’s favourite of all is Happy Christmas Maisy.

I love this one too – no matter how many Maisy books I read, I’m always impressed by the cleverness of the lift-the-flaps in the productions. This one is no exception. It’s a miniature hardback, and the tiny lift-the-flaps are very cute. The selected concepts it introduces make it perfect for under 3s. The closing page with Christmas tree and lights that really look like they flash, driven simply by a tab – no battery needed! – are a highlight.

||Happy Christmas Maisy available at Amazon||

If you are looking for something a bit different and quirky in a Christmas book then you might like these favorites of ours…

Olive The Other Reindeer is J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh’s story of a little dog, Olive, who has a few identity issues. While listening to the lyrics of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, instead of hearing ‘All of the other reindeer’ she hears ‘Olive, the other reindeer’. Of course! Believing she must be one of Santa’s helpers, Olive jumps on the polar express and heads to the North Pole to report for duty.

Released this year, there is a gorgeous tenth anniversary deluxe edition of the original story.

The new edition is a larger version of the original book, and it features flaps to lift, spots to scratch and sniff – including gumdrop and gingerbread smells – yum, and a most magnificent pop-up of the North Pole as a grand finale.

Although a rather silly story the charm of this book is definitely in the very funky and modern artwork for the illustrations. The book does have a great sense of humour and now the deluxe edition with its bits and bobs has just added a whole new lovely dimension to it.

||Olive the Other Reindeer Deluxe Edition available from the We Heart Books Store||

The whole series of the Toot and Puddle books by Holly Hobbie are simply gorgeous but I’ll be Home For Christmas is probably my favorite. These little pink pigs are best mates and they LOVE Christmas but this year Puddle is waiting at home for Toot to return from his trip to Scotland. Wouldn’t you know it, Toot’s flights are cancelled because of bad weather and the pair fear that they won’t spend Christmas together. Forever the optimists they both make the best of their situations and finally they are together again.

The classic illustrations in this book make it a beautiful keepsake for Christmas but don’t be fooled by its cuteness, there are funny little twists to each illustration giving the book a really quirky edge that parents will appreciate – like the page where Toot is carolling cheerfully in the snow accompanied by some very adoring sheep in Scotland.

||Toot and Puddle I’ll Be Home For Christmas available from Amazon||

Sophie Kringle lives with her family in a penthouse in New York City that is decorated for Christmas all year round. The penthouse belongs to her great aunt, Auntie Claus who always has a reminder for Sophie:

“And darling, always remember my first and final rule–whether it’s birthdays, Christmas, or Halloween, it is far better to give than to receive!”

Auntie Claus dresses in a luscious red dress with white trim and mysteriously disappears on a business trip each Halloween and is not seen again until Valentines Day. So Sophie decides to stow away and find out what her Auntie Claus is really up too.

Elise Primavera’s story is pretty heavy on the text so Auntie Claus and its sequel Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas are picture books for ages four to five plus. Primavera’s illustrations can only be described as magical. They are deliciously warm, textured and really have that Christmasy feel. I’m very surprised that no-one has made a film of this picture book yet; as based on the subtle moral message, it could be another Miracle on 34th Street.

||Auntie Claus available from Amazon||

All children love books where they need to find things within the pictures. Ned at the moment pours over illustrations, running his fingers over the page and pointing at things that he may or may not have seen before. Walter Wick has created a brilliant series called Can You See What I See? and his Christmas book is called Can You See What I See? The Night Before Christmas. Wick and his team passionately create each scene for the books, making models and lots of tiny little props to make the spreads look so realistic. Each scene is photographed and then instructions are given in the books to find certain objects within each illustration.

Walter Wick has an amazing website where you can actually follow the process of how they create the books – oh how I would love a job there!

||Can You See What I See? Night Before Christmas available from Amazon||

And finally for something completely different, there is The Elf on the Shelf gift box. The description of the concept is…

‘This children’s book explains that Santa knows who is naughty and/or nice because he sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity allows The Elf on the Shelf to become a delightful hide-and-seek game. ’

I’m not sure I’m up with the concept of the Elf appearing somewhere different each morning. Creepy or cute? Design Mom wrote a post last year on using The Elf on the Shelf at her house.

||Elf on the Shelf Website||

Last year we talked about some Christmas faves too, you can find that post here. And also a lovely post by Melbourne mum Sing a Song about The Christmas Book by Dick Bruna and her amazing advent calendar.