Noel Streatfeild’s Christmas Stories

 

2018

Although this was compiled in 2018 the stories were first published in various magazines in the early 1950s.  

Noel Streatfeild presents to us an older-fashioned way of living; one we might think would be gentler. Or is it?  

Rationing was still happening and this is evident in many of the stories.  Also surprising that not all of the stories are about well-to-do middle class families although one certainly is and one is even about a princess.

In all of the stories the characters struggle emotionally or financially and in many examples both.

As we might expect from Streatfeild, ballet shoes, skating and shows feature abundantly.

Each story is short and carefully crafted. There are a few line drawings that illustrate the content. The paperback is 174 pages long.

Santa’s Lost Buttons by Kirsty-Louise Garbutt and Meneer Marcleo

 

2021

Santa keeps losing his buttons. The child is invited to find them in in the pictures. Some are harder to find that others.

Santa sets off on his journey and we see him visiting homes and enjoying mince pies and other treats.  And of course, losing his buttons.  He has a run in with the Queen’s corgis. He goes to France where we learn his French name.  In Spain we learn his Spanish name.  He goes to the USA and we see the Statue of Liberty. At last his journey is finished.  The elf places one more button in the under the sleeping boy’s bed.  And the reader is invited to find one more that is tucked away at the back of the book in a small envelope.     

The pictures are full of extra activity which provides more story and talking points for the adult and child reading the book together.     

The text is not too dense. It is printed in a simple font, with easy to read   ‘a’s and ‘g’s.  The book is sturdy: it is landscape and in hardback   

A Child’s Literary Christmas by Anna James

2019

Anna James has collected stories for children about Christmas.  She includes in this collection excerpts from many well-known and well-loved stories.  There are also several less well-known ones. 

Could it be a little frustrating for the newly fluent reader? These are mainly partial stories and they don’t all resolve. Or might it serve as an introduction to the longer works? It may also be a useful source of stories for a primary teacher to read aloud at the end of a busy day in the period just before Christmas. 

The book has a very attractive cover and is quite robust.  Yet it would be comfortable enough for young hands to hold.  It contains several attractive illustrations.  Some of the stories start on a navy blue background with cream lettering. The second page is then orange with black lettering. These may seem odd.  The section breaks are in the same shade of blue as the cover.  The font is small and adult, with difficult ‘a’s and ‘g’s yet the text is formatted ragged right.