Title: A Very Curious Christmas

Written by: Maddie Moate

Illustrated by: Paul Boston

Published by: Puffin Books

A Very Curious Christmas by Maddie Moate and Paul Boston is full of a wide range of Christmas trivia divided into four sections:

• Traditions and Cultures
• Animals and Nature
• Food
• Fun and Decorations

Told from the viewpoint of YouTuber, Maddie Moate, with the assistance of Nigel the abominable snowman, Puddles the Adélie penguin and Big Elf this book is a fun read that you can dip in and out of with no need to read it from cover to cover. There are also twenty-five gingerbread men hidden within the pages and some extremely corny Christmas jokes.

If you want something to keep the children amused during the weeks leading up to Christmas this is the perfect book. There are plenty of activities for them to get engrossed in such as a folded magazine Christmas tree, Birdseed cakes, Snowy Owl pine cones, a table top ice hockey rink and a cool quiz at the end of each section.

A Very Curious Christmas incorporates information on environmental issues such as the effects of climate change and has a fantastic multi-cultural approach to celebrations around the same time as Christmas. At the back of the book Maddie Moat lists her many sources and there is a useful glossary.

Ideally this book should be bought and shared with your children before Christmas. It would also make a great classroom resource for activities to do at the end of the winter term, where you can compare different celebrations, discuss pantomimes and do your own performances or try some of the many craft ideas.

A treasure trove of information.  

You can find out more about A Very Curious Christmas by Maddie Moate and Paul Boston in my Spotlight here: Spotlight – A Very Curious Christmas.