Where's Santa? Around the World, by Louis Shea

With another busy Christmas over, Santa is taking Mrs Claus off on a holiday. As they travel around teh world, however, they are pursued by Naughty Nat, the naughtiest child in the world, who wants to steal Santa’s naughty-and-nice list so that she can get the pony she missed out on last Christmas.

Where’s Santa? Around the World is a look and find book perfect for the festive season. As Santa travels around the world to locations including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, China’s Great Wall and more, youngsters can find him hidden on every spread, as well as Mrs Claus, Naughty Nat, Fluffy (Santa’s pet yeti) and more.

Every spread is filled with detail to explore, and back of book lists challenge readers to find extra objects. great as a gift or stocking filler.

Where’s Santa? Around the World, by Louis Shea
Scholastic, 2013
ISBN 9781742836850

Available from good bookstores or online. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Princess and Fairy Twinkly Ballerinas, by Anna Pignataro

Princess and Fairy’s calendars were full,
Of fun and activity at Briar Wood School!
Horse riding, swimming and passing each test,
Winning awards for the fairest and best.

Princess and Fairy are at school together and very good friends. They love everything about school, but best of all they love dancing classes. So it’s easy to imagine their excitement when they receive an invitation to the Royal Bunny Ball. But first there’s some work to be done. Not that they mind. They must wear the red slippers that let them fly, then visit all manner of magical places to collect a barrow load full of glittering things to take to the ballet. Their first port of call is Sleeping Bunny Land where the Princess and all her people are fast asleep. Then it’s off to visit more magical lands. The illustrations are in soft pastel colours with pale blue borders. The text is as if hand written and sits in scrolls across the bottom of each opening. The invitation to the ballet is in a tiny envelope on the second opening, and there’s a list of the items they seek. When they reach the ballet itself, it is more exciting – and more sparkly – than they could possibly have imagined.

Princess and Fairy – Twinkly Ballerinas is for little girls who love to dress up and twirl and most of all to dance. Many little girls spend time wanting to be a princess, or a fairy. Here they can do both, they can play both. The two bunny ballerinas are living the dream and more! With the help of magic shoes they can fly through many of the most famous classic ballets, recognising or being introduced to many elements of each. The text is sprinkled with ballet terms, while the illustrations are full of delightful details to pore over. There are items to be found on each opening. Expect plenty of dancing and twirling around the house, after reading Princess and Fairy – Twinkly Ballerinas.

Princess and Fairy – Twinkly Ballerinas, Anna Pignataro
Scholastic Australia 2010
ISBN: 9781741695359

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

This book can be purchased from good bookstores, or online from Fishpond.