Barney Gumnut and his friends – Hoppity, Edith, Robert, Charles and Wilfred – are bursting with excitement. It’s Christmas Eve!
When Edith asks Barney what Christmas really means, he says he thinks it’s about celebrating with friends. Wilfred insists it’s about getting presents, while Charles believes it’s about giving them. Hoppity thinks it’s all about swimming in the creek and eating icy watermelon.
Each of them has their own idea of what makes Christmas special – afternoon naps, pavlova and pudding, paper hats and things made to share.
Robert decides to bake mince pies, and Barney sets about making Christmas cards for everyone. Wilfred gathers blossoms and gumnuts, while Hoppity creates a little nativity scene.
As evening falls, the friends snuggle into their beds on the soft grass and gaze up at the stars above.
Tamsin Ainslie’s first book featuring this delightful cast was Barney Gumnut and Friends. As with that story, this new book ‘wraps readers lovingly in the joy of friendship and togetherness’.
There is so much warmth here – the simple pleasure of making things to share and the feeling of ‘knowing there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here, with my bestest friends’.
Simply beautiful.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 2+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born in the UK, I travelled & moved a lot with my family through my teenage years before going to art college at the Clifton College of Art, Bristol and then to Sydney Place Art College, Bath Uk. I moved to Australia in my 20s and lived in Broome Western Australia for a number of years, and Margaret River, Melbourne & Brisbane before ultimately settling in Murwillumbah, NSW.
I work from my studio in the Northern Rivers, NSW, where I live with my family, two horses, three noisy dogs, lots of chickens and a duck called Lottie who I love very much and who is very loud and loves to tell the world what she is doing all of the time. I spend most of my time drawing, painting, writing and illustrating children’s books, more drawing, printmaking and playing with paper and colour.
My work can be found in children’s books, on book covers, stationery, greeting cards, children’s games and toys, posters, promotional material and in advertising. I have illustrated over 50 books. They are sold all over the world. A number of my books have been translated into different languages including Turkish, French, German and Korean.
I have illustrated the Barney Gumnut and Friends range of Children’s products for Ashdene, which include dinner sets, egg cups, mugs, plates, tote bags, fabric patterns, aprons and more.
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