Happy Christmas, Maisy - Story Snug
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Dec 21st: Guy Parker-Rees chooses Happy Christmas Maisy

The Story: Happy Christmas Maisy is really not about the plot! Maisy does Christmassy things: buying and wrapping presents, baking, putting up decorations and stockings. Then there’s a knock at the door…

Why is this Happy Christmas Maisy your favourite Christmas book?

It really gets you in a Christmassy mood and isn’t that all you want from a Christmas book? I’ve shared this book with my three boys countless times over the years and it’s become a part of our Christmas ritual – it only ever comes out with the Christmas decorations. I think the appeal of all the Maisy books is the pared down simplicity. I love the dollops of bold colour, so safe and stable in the chunky black line. There’s just enough wobble in those lines to lend them the emotional warmth that can only come from hand painted human imperfection. It’s comforting and satisfying and quite unique. In this book there’s also just the right amount of festive glitter and sparkle, flaps and pull tabs. With the genius of paper engineering small hands can: open Christmas cards, wrap presents, get out Christmas decorations, pull presents from a stocking; turn on and off sparkly Christmas tree lights and more. You MUST also find the little robin tweeting from every page.

Can you describe a favourite illustration or give a favourite quote from the story and tell us why you chose it?

I particularly like the last party gatefold where you open Maisy’s jacket and see ‘ I (heart) Christmas’ on her T shirt and lift Tallulah’s sparkly party dress to see she has a cheeky ‘Jingle Bells’ written on her pants. This would always get a laugh from my boys.

Author / Illustrator: Lucy Cousins

About Guy

Guy has illustrated many best selling children’s books including ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’, ‘Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus’ and ‘All Afloat on Noah’s Boat’. He lives in Brighton with his wife and three children and is slightly obsessed with collecting wild mushrooms.

Guy’s Website / Facebook / Twitter

Some of Guy’s Books

Fabulous Pie – written by Gareth Edwards (shortisted for The Children’s Book Award 2016)

Twist and Hop Minibeast Bop written by Tony Mitton

Also very excited to introduce the first of a series of books I have written and illustrated about a brand new character, Dylan the dog, ‘Dylan the Doctor ‘coming out in May 2016

Guy Parker-Rees Dylan the Doctor

Which book is on your Christmas wishlist this year?

I’m waiting for it to snow so I can sit in a comfy chair next to the Christmas tree with the fire blazing and read “A Boy Called Christmas” by the wonderful Matt Haig.

Story Snug’s 2015 Advent Calendar on Pinterest

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One response to “Dec 21st: Guy Parker-Rees chooses Happy Christmas Maisy”


  1. Catherine avatar

    Thank you so much for joining us on Story Snug’s Advent calendar Guy. We are huge fans of Maisy and her friends and love your choice of story. I hope that you receive Matt Haig’s book, it’s on my wishlist too 🙂