It’s Christmas Eve, and sleepy Echidna still doesn’t have a present for her friend Roo. Maybe she could make something! But Christmas craft doesn’t always go quite to plan…
An uplifting Christmas picture book featuring a cast of adorable Australian bush animals, from the creators of The Great Aussie Egg-And-Spoon Race.
A Christmas Present for Roo is an amusing and moving picture book that takes young readers through a common Christmas activity – deciding what to gift someone. We’ve all experienced the indecision that comes with searching for the perfect gift for someone special, wanting to find something that will hold meaning and sentiment. But it’s not always easy, and Echidna is experiencing it firsthand.
Fun and light-hearted, Echidna enlists the help of her trusty friend Kookaburra to find the ideal gift for Roo. When no object feels like the right fit for Roo, Echidna attempts to DIY, and the results are delightful. Moving from lush greens to the midnight blue of night back to the colour of Christmas, readers go on an entertainingly enjoyable present-hunting journey.
In this picture book, children’s author Sophie Sayle shows that the power of friendship, determination, perseverance and the beauty of the unexpected are the recipe for the perfect present.
Daron Parton is an award-winning New Zealand illustrator, and he’s so deserving of his accolades. Vibrantly stunning, Parton has a knack for visually exuding emotion, expression and setting to complement Sayle’s prose. Echidna’s captivating eyes of hope, willpower and strength have stuck with me well after finishing this book. It’s perfect for bedtime reading.
And although Echidna is rushing to find the perfect gift, you don’t need to be in the same boat. With Christmas creeping up faster than ever, now is the ideal time to get your gift-giving list in order – and A Christmas Present for Roo would be the best pick for children aged 3+.
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