Was That Christmas? - Hardcover

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of such beloved middle-grade novels as The Exiles, which was named an NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts and a Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon book; Dog Friday, which was an ALA Notable Book and a Booklist Editors' Choice; and The Amber Cat, which was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and a Booklist Editors' Choice. She is the author of two previous picture books, Where's Bear? and Pirates Ahoy!, both illustrated by Alex Ayliffe. Ms. McKay lives with her family in Derbyshire, England.

*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. This marvelous little story gets right inside a child's concerns. Preschooler Bella thinks she has a handle on Christmas: at least she knows that Santa Claus will come in a sleigh pulled by his reindeer. But when Santa appears with a sack full of toys at her school pageant, Bella is first taken aback, then appalled. Where are the reindeer? The snow? Santa didn't even bring a present for her kitty! Outraged, Bella starts crying, "Was that Christmas?" In sweet profusion, Bella's mother begins listing all the wonderful things yet to do: mail cards, bake pies, get the tree. Each day, Bella asks, "Now?" But no. They must still buy the presents and fix the lights. At long last, it's Christmas. Because this is a British import, there will be some traditions unfamiliar to American children (Christmas crackers, sausage rolls), but Bella's heartfelt emotions are universal, and the building excitement of the holiday season is the same no matter what the specific traditions. Harvey's charming watercolors mostly play off the sweetness of the season, but when Bella is expressing her outrage about the faux Christmas during a rainstorm, there are clenched hands and bitter tears. Lovely for families, especially those with young ones who may also be a wee bit confused about holiday preparations. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved