The Story: Little Noah is going Christmas shopping with his mummy, sister Evie-May and, of course, his favourite soft toy Oliver Elephant.
They go to the big store and find presents for everyone on their list and Noah and Oliver get up to little bits of mischief as they shop. When the shopping is finally all done they pop to the café for a slice of cake, and just as they get ready to leave, Noah discovers that Oliver is missing! I don’t want to spoil the ending – but there’s a little bit of Christmas magic to make it a happy one! Written in rhyme this is a brilliant read aloud story.
Why is Oliver Elephant your favourite Christmas book?
There are so many things that I can relate to in this book – trying to take two kids shopping at Christmas time seems a daunting prospect and I can imagine my BookBairn would get up to mischief just like Noah. She also has a very favourite cuddly toy – Louis the lion – who goes everywhere with us! Fortunately, we’ve never had that moment of panic when it disappears (we also have two, just in case!). I love the normality of this book, and whilst there is magic in how Oliver finds his way back to Noah – it’s real magic – no fairies, elves or pixie dust. This is a timely reminder that real life is just as magic as the mythical.
Can you describe a favourite illustration or give a favourite quote from the story and tell us why you chose it.
I love Helen Stephens’s illustrations – they are absolutely adorable. There are several beautiful spreads of Noah and his family inside the department store with a huge Christmas tree in the centre towering over all the shoppers. It is perfect! The perfect Christmas scene. Bringing to life the magic of this time of year.
Author: Lou Peacock / Illustrator: Helen Stephens
About Kim
Kim lives in Scotland with her daughter, nicknamed BookBairn, baby son, nicknamed The Wee Page Turner, husband and much-adored pet rabbit. She has always enjoyed reading books, a passion inherited from her librarian-mother, and hopes to pass on this love of books to her little bairns. A teacher on career-break, to spend more time with her children, she is passionate about baby-led reading where little ones have free rein to choose what they read and make mountains of book mess throughout the house.
Which book is on your Christmas wishlist this year?
I really want Britta Teckentrup’s ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’.
2017 Story Snug Advent blogposts on Pinterest
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