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Merry Un-Christmas
- By Mike Reiss
- Genre: Holiday
Common Sense Media says
Silly tale for kids who love Christmas.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that except for the fact that the daily Christmas is presented as a rather commercial event, the rest of this story is silly, light, and enjoyable. The basic idea is nothing new, but it's fun to think about: What would life be like if every day but one were Christmas? Would Un-Christmas then become the most wonderful day of the year?
What's the story?
Noelle and her family live in Christmas City in the state of Texmas, where it's Christmas 364 days a year. Instead of dreaming of Christmas, she dreams of "Un-Christmas." She is tired of waking up to day after day of presents and celebrations; she can hardly wait to wake up to no tree, no gifts, and no parties. The day will only get better once the tree is down, the lights are off, the mail carrier finally delivers the regular mail, and she gets to go to school!
Is it any good?
With a wacky twist, this cute and rather silly story opens up the question of what would happen in a world where every day but one were Christmas. In such a world, tired of celebrating every day, Noelle, a slightly bored but cheery little character, wishes that every day would be "Un-Christmas." Like most of us, she hopes to capture the magic of a special day that comes but once a year.
With its light, funny story coupled with happy little drawings that are colorful, expressive, and bit reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, this book will make kids laugh. At first they may not understand how anyone could be bored with presents, Santa, and feasting, but after a little discussion they'll certainly get the point. And, as the authors suggest, it may make kids think twice about what they wish for.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Noelle is bored with a Christmas that comes every day. Would kids feel the same way she does? Would they get tired of all the bikes, ponies, and other gifts? Would they miss school? Regular TV shows? Daily mail? Are things more special if they only happen sometimes?
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| Author: | Mike Reiss |
| Illustrator: | David Catrow |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Holiday |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | November 17, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 3 - 7 |
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