#BookReview: Goose on Christmas Eve; Poems for Children by Marg Gibbs and Friends, published by M.J. Gibbs, October 2024.
Blurb:
Playing Marco Polo
Underwater world
Reindeer race and noodles
Pool games, torpedo twirl.
From backyard splashes in the summer pool to finding the perfect Christmas storybook, this rich collection of read-aloud poems gathers a family together, sharing happy times.
From poems that whisper, toes that jingle, Santa in thongs and the love born in a manger, Goose on Christmas Eve offers pages to make everyone feel at home.
Review:
This treasured gift this Christmas comes neatly wrapped with bows, ribbons, baubles and tinsel in a festivity of delightful poems for the whole family to share. A wonderful curation by Marg Gibbs and Friends, Goose on Christmas Eve culminates a collection of 24 magical verses that celebrate all the best bits of this time of year in Australia.
Dedicated to making our Christmas bright and ‘full of love and storytelling’, Marg and her collaborators certainly spread plenty of joy, hope, humour and beautiful art throughout this anthology. With poems about singing, twirling angels to traditional Christmas tales, funny rhymes of goanna antics, spicy Gingerbread boys, classic Aussie tucker and pool time splashing, a sprinkling of festive how-to’s and Knock Knock jokes, plus so much more Christmas cheer, there’s something for every member of your family, friends, cousins and neighbours.
What’s so gloriously special is the inclusion of art from Marg’s talented illustrator friends; Jenny Catalano‘s enchanting and whimsical line and brush digital media, and Zoe Bennett‘s stunningly gorgeous watercolour Christmas dogs that are just so sweet and cheeky at the same time. What’s more, Marg’s own illustrations capture richness and warmth with her painted cut-out collages, and it is her young grandchildren’s designs in pencil and paints that add so much life, energy and friendliness to the pages.
A spirited and unique Australian Christmas collection, Goose on Christmas Eve is a sparkling, popping and cracking bundle of poetic goodness with the perfect gifts of surprise inside. BANG!
Review by Romi Sharp.
Find Marg Gibbs and Goose on Christmas Eve at her website: Goose on Christmas Eve – M.J.Gibbs (mjgibbs.com.au)
and on Facebook and Instagram.
Goose on Christmas Eve is available for purchase from M.J. Gibbs.
Join in the festive cheer with M.J. Gibbs and Friends and their delightfully rollicking collection of poems for children, Goose on Christmas Eve, bringing joy to readers across the blogosphere and into every home!
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