A very quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James
ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733329623
(Age: 2-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Sharing,
Perseverance. Samantha Duck is singing her favourite song, We
wish you a quacky Christmas as she gets ready for Christmas.
She believes that animals love to share and she wants to give
presents to animals all over the world. Sebastian the tortoise is
not so optimistic. He believes that it cannot be done, and says
"Christmas is not for animals," but Samantha is determined because
for her "Christmas is about giving and sharing". When they approach
their farmyard friends for help all the animals decide that
Christmas is for them. The sheep donate their wool for Samantha and
Sebastian to knit socks and scarves, the hens donate their eggs for
the pair to make cupcakes, the cows the daisies in the field for
daisy chains and then they wrap everything in brightly coloured
paper. The donkey shares his cart so that the friends can deliver
their presents all over the world. With determination and a final
belief that Christmas is for animals from Sebastian, the pair soar
into the air, delivering their presents all over the world.
This is a joyous picture book that is destined to become a Christmas
favourite. I found myself humming along to Samantha's We wish
you a quacky Christmas for hours after reading the story and
kept the images of the Samantha and Sebastian dancing to the song in
my head, making me feel happy at the thought of sharing and giving
at Christmas. Children will delight in the gorgeous illustrations of
the friends as they make their presents and soar across the sky and
will easily follow the themes of perseverance and generosity that
permeate the story.
A very quacky Christmas is a keeper and one for all
libraries, homes and classrooms.
Pat Pledger