Findus At Christmas (Findus and Pettson) (Findus & Pettson Series) [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ref The Findus and Pettson Series: 'The stories are ingenious, the characters are quirky and original, and the illustrations are absolutely delightful. I can't recommend them highly enough.' --Phiip Pullman

It is the day before Christmas Eve and Pettson and his talking cat Findus have lots to do, but disaster strikes, when Pettson sprains his ankle. How can they celebrate Christmas now with no tree, ham, meatballs or gingerbread? For all their resourcefulness, Findus and Pettson are close to giving up, when suddenly there is a knock on the door... A wonderful tale of kindness and sharing, and how Christmas can bring out the best in people and cats of course! The first thing I noticed about this book is the amazing and beautiful detail on each picture. Every page had a lovely illustration which lots going on, Skye loved to tell me what was happening or if she didn t know she would ask me what a certain thing was. I think the pictures are great as it keeps the children amused while reading it. The book is also wonderfully written. I read this book to Skye and she loved it from the very first page she was pointing out things in the pictures while I read. It was an amusing book we did have a fair few laughs reading it but it was also showing how kind people can be, and also showed how people can be resourceful with items they already have at home when needs must! We both agreed that Findus was a bit of a cheeky little cat but his heart was in the right place. The book is a great book to read to get into the Christmas spirit and would make a wonderful gift for Christmas or maybe read on Christmas Eve just before bed. Skye will usually pick a few books for me to read at bedtime to her and this is now on her list, So I am reading this every night to her. I found this book fantastic, It gave me a mix of emotions from Sad, Happy, Laughing, with a lovely warm feeling at the end. Its a story about the true spirit of Christmas! It is a hardbacked book RRP £10.99 and is available in all good bookstores --http://stressedrach.co.uk

I ll start today with an admission. We don t really do Christmas in our home. It s not that we go out of our way to avoid it, but it s not a celebration we wait all year for. M s birthday is just before the 25th, we re not a religious family, and we don t want to be sucked in to a big cycle of (over) consumption, so all in all, Christmas is a quiet time for us. We don t do stockings, we don t have faith, but (of course) we can t entirely do without books. Findus at Christmas by Sven Nordqvist is one of the few Christmassy books that we have already enjoyed and will no doubt read ever more frequently in the coming weeks. We re huge fans of eccentric old farmer Pettson and his cheeky cat Findus (for my reviews of earlier Pettson and Findus books click here), and in this story there s everything we could hope for. It s December 23rd and after days of terribly wintry weather, finally Pettson and Findus can set about getting everything ready for Christmas Day. They ve got so much to do; shopping, baking, felling the Christmas tree and preparing the house. But disaster strikes when out in the forest they have a sledging accident and Pettson badly hurts his foot. Having limped back home it becomes clear that Christmas isn t going to happen as they d planned. They ve almost no food in the larder and the house is bare of decoration. Silently they sat and watched their reflection in the window against the darkness outside. It can get this quiet when things don t turn out the way you expect. Christmas morning arrives and a neighbour pops his head round the door to check everything is ok. When he sees the state of Pettson s foot, and hears Findus wailing he steps into the breach and brings in some firewood and promises to return later with milk. As word spreads of Pettson s predicament, one by one neighbours rally round, each bringing a basket of delicious food. Pettson and Findus have managed to make a Christmas tree laden with imaginative decorations out of a bits and bobs they have lying around and unexpectedly the house is full of Merry Christmas! and talk and laughter as neighbours and their families stay and share good will and good cheer. Christmas turns out to be better then the farmer and his cat could have possibly hoped for. This story is my sort of Christmas story: what really matters about this season, is not the tree, is not the rushing around like crazy trying to do too many things, but rather simply generosity, kindness and community. The message shines through in a gentle but powerful way because the book is packed with humour, both verbal and pictorial. The capers Pettson and Findus get up to, from surfing over the wet floor of the kitchen, to choosing unusual Christmas presents for each other will get you giggling, whilst the affection that is so strong between the farmer and his feline friend will make you feel like hugging those near and dear to you. A pretty good way to start Christmas, don t you think? --http://www.playingbythebook.net

Ref The Findus and Pettson Series: 'The stories are ingenious, the characters are quirky and original, and the illustrations are absolutely delightful. I can't recommend them highly enough.' Philip Pullman