Busy Betty & the perfect Christmas present by Reese Witherspoon. Illus. by Xindi Yan

Busy Betty is looking for the perfect Christmas present. She wants to give everyone a gift, even the dog, Frank. She and Moe put their heads together to find ways of making money to buy the presents, after she has discovered that her piggy bank is empty. One suggestion is a lemonade stall, but as it it the middle of winter, they doubt anyone wold like to buy a lemonade, let alone be out on the streets in this cold.

So this idea is knocked on the head. But what about selling cookies at a stall. The two decide that they should make cookies to offer to passersby.

All sounds great and the cookies are made, but where are the customers? No on is in the street on this cold blustery day. They make a family of snow people to make it look like they have customers. But all to no avail.

No one comes by. But suddenly Frank leaps past the stall grabbing the cookies as he goes. Betty is non plussed. If they have no cookies to make some money to but presents, then there will be no gifts.

Suddenly Bo walks up and spies the one cookie left on the ground and picks it up to eat it, saying that this one must be for him. An idea hits Betty. What about a cookie made juts for the right person. That afternoon Betty is in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. When it is time for the opening of their presents, each of her family is delighted with the cookie made jut for them.

A wonderful tale focussing not on money and presents at Christmas, but an idea which many kids will love to follow: making a cookie just for the person.

A humorous tale that is sure to delight as children everywhere wait for Christmas to come around. All the trappings of Christmas are shown in the vivacious illustrations, full of life and colour, capturing the excitement felt by the whole family. This day focuses on family and sharing is all there before their eyes. Kids will love pointing out the things which represent Christmas: reindeer ears, Christmas wrapping, Christmas tree, stockings, presents, tinsel, snowmen etc. This northern hemisphere book shows a different landscape to our sun drenched Christmasses, and will excite readers as they see the warm clothes the children are wearing, as well as their activities: snow boarding, building snowmen and playing in the snow.

Themes: Christmas, Presents, Family, Enthusiasm, Northern hemisphere Christmas.

Fran Knight