Christmas Is Coming To Town! by Rachel Piercey

I'm a bit late with today's read, and it would have been better to have snuck in sometime around the end of November...but so many books and so little time! Today's read is more of an Advent's calendar than a regular book, but I'm wondering if it could be used as a fun Christmas book, too. Why? Because it appears to be a fold out book with 24 windows and doors to open to discover what's inside. I'm hoping that little readers can just open these themselves and have fun with it. But we'll see. Oh, I also saw on Goodreads that this is available in Norwegian, too.

So, let's see how this one works, shall we?

CHRISTMAS IS COMING TO TOWN!

Brown Bear Wood

by Rachel Piercey

Illustrated by Freya Hartas

Magic Cat Publishing

Picture Book Holiday

16 pages

ages 3 to 8

Count down to Christmas with Bear and his woodland friends in this spectacular advent calendar book—with surprises hidden under 24 doors, holiday activities to enjoy as a family, and a magical accordion-style fold-out to display

In Christmas is Coming to Town!, children will enjoy the merriment of getting ready for Christmas with Bear and his friends. The calendar includes 24 flaps to open, each one revealing a delightful illustration and verse about the animals of Brown Bear Wood preparing for the big day.

On the back of the stunningly illustrated fold-out calendar there are tips for more holiday fun, including: tell a Christmas story with Papa Bear; write a letter to Santa with Professor Owl; bake carrot oat bars for Rudolph with Mama Fox; build a snow deer with the Deer Family; decorate a gingerbread burrow with Bunny; pick the perfect tree with Bear; and make gift wrap with the Squirrel Family. Christmas is truly magical in Brown Bear Wood!

Brown Bear Wood series:
If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Grand Old Oak and the Birthday Ball
It’s Busy Down in the Woods Today
Wisdom of the Woods
Brown Bear Wood: A Search-and-Find Coloring Book: Over 100 Things to Find
Bear’s Picnic Puzzle: A Magical Woodland (100 Piece Puzzle)
Christmas is Coming to Town!
The Great Easter Egg Hunt
I Love You Always

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Get ready to get big because this book pulls out into a long line with tons to discover on every page.

First I have to reveal that I didn't see this one in physical copy form, which I'm sure would have been lovely. Still, it was enjoyable and is definitely going on my list of future reads for the little ones in my life. This 'book' stretches out into an entire, long display of Christmas in a town. Each page is packed with busy and cheerful illustrations. Many are sure to make readers smile, and there's always something new to discover thanks to the enjoyable chaos. There are doors on each page, each marked with a number from 1-24. This makes it perfect for the Advent countdown. But this can also be read simply as a fun way to open doors and discover what's inside. 

The surprises are brief, cute, and carry tons of Christmas joy. It's fun to meet all of the characters and see what they are up to. Plus, readers can enjoy this one themselves, since much of the delights are of the visual nature. 

It's a warming, fun way to rank up the pre-Christmas excitement.

And here she is...

FREYA HARTAS is a UK based artist specialising in children's books, and the illustrator of the internationally bestselling Slow Down and Brown Bear Wood series. She graduated from Falmouth University with a first-class honours in BA Illustration in 2014. Freya loves to conjure up humorous characters, animals and monsters, creating the most fantastical worlds for them to inhabit and get lost in.

It's Busy Down in the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey

 The moment I saw today's read, I had to get my hands on a copy...but when I received my copy in the mail, I was over the moon. I haven't read it yet. I haven't even opened the cover to peek inside because I'm just enjoying the anticipation of diving in first. So, why am I so excited? Well, not only does the cover hint at tons of details in lovely illustrations (and I do love searching details), but it's also beautifully bound with cloth on the edge and the vine/flowers are in gold. It just gives a high quality and special impression.

But since a book isn't formed by it's cover, I guess it's finally time to sit down and see if my expectations are met or not.

(Note: This one is heading to my possible favorites of the year list.)

IT'S BUSY DOWN IN THE WOODS TODAY

Brown Bear Wood

by Rachel Piercy

Illustrated by Freya Hartas

Magic Cat

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 6

COMING JUNE 17th!!!

Discover how the animals of Brown Bear Wood spend their days and search for over 100 hidden things in It’s Busy Down in the Woods Today, a brand-new picture book from the creators of the internationally bestselling If You Go Down to the Woods Today

Enter the charming world of Brown Bear Wood. It’s a busy place! Visit the school, the bakery, the grocery store, and many more exciting places in this classic picture book that teaches little ones all about what goes on in their communities. Find out how Bear, Professor Owl, Mama Fox, Grandpa Toad, and more beloved characters help Brown Bear Wood run smoothly every day.

With delightful read-aloud poems and hidden items to search for on every page, It’​s Busy Down in the Woods Today holds the attention of young readers and creates an immersive, cozy world that encourages them to step into imaginative play.

Features

• 12 fully illustrated scenes
• 100 things to search and find
• Hours of fun!

Other books in the Brown Bear Wood series:
Grand Old Oak and the Birthday Ball
If You Go Down to the Woods Today
The Great Easter Egg Hunt
I Love You Always
A Search-and-Find Coloring Book

GOODREADS     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is a woods to dive into and enjoy, while learning about the various jobs people...ummm...animals do.

Every page of this books screams love and care. The illustrations are well done and carry many details to guarantee that there is something new to discover with every visit. As the reader visits the woods, they are introduced to several of animals including the teacher owl, the mouse doctor, and many more. 

First, there's a two-page spread introducing the surroundings and forest around each profession. A few short, rhyming verses introduce the scene and set the tone. The illustration covering the spread is extremely detailed with tons of life and so much going on. But this isn't only for gazing fun. There's a list on these pages of items or animals the reader should find. Some of these are simple, while others take a bit of searching. 

After each of these search spreads, the animal and their profession gain center stage as the various activities they perform are showcased in little sections spread across the two pages. For example, the teaching owl paints with the students, drinks a tea while they play outside, and so on. The small illustrations, which depict each moment, are also very detailed even considering their smaller size. They are accompanied by a short, rhyming text to highlight each moment. 

While this is a delight on the illustration end, the story direction is also well done. The rhymes flow seamlessly and naturally right along with the joyful, visual moments. There's a lovely sense of happiness and community, which is hard to miss. While the joy of living and working together comes across in each moment, readers also learn a bit about the various jobs people do and how they contribute to life and/or the community.

While this book is a little more difficult to use as a read aloud in larger groups, it's a very fun read for cozier settings. I see little readers enjoying these pages quite a bit and getting lost in the scenes, especially as they search and discover all of the goodness held in the illustrations.

And here they are...

Rachel Piercey is a freelance poet, editor, and tutor. She has co-edited three children’s poetry anthologies with the Emma Press and regularly performs her work and runs poetry workshops in primary schools. Piercey’s poems for adults have been published in various journals, including The Poetry Review, Magma, and The Rialto, as well as two pamphlets with the Emma Press and one with HappenStance. Together with Freya Hartas, she is the author of the Brown Bear Wood series, including Grand Old Oak and the Birthday Ball and If You Go Down to the Woods Today. She lives in London. 

Freya Hartas is a UK-based illustrator specializing in children’s books. She lives in the vibrant city of Bristol with her partner and their ancient black cat, Katsu, and works from her cosy, cluttered desk in a shared studio down the road. She graduated from Falmouth University in 2014 with a first-class honors BA in illustration. Hartas loves to conjure up humorous characters, animals, and monsters, creating the most fantastical worlds for them to inhabit and get lost in.