  | Decorate the tree! Author: Jones, Amanda Jane | |
| Price: $21.18 | ||
Summary:
By clapping their hands and twinkling their fingers, the reader decorates the Christmas tree in this interactive story.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (08/11/23)
Booklist (09/15/23)
The Hornbook (00/11/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 08/11/2023 PreS-Gr 1—An interactive Christmas picture book. The tree first appears bare, with basic triangle and rectangle shapes. But as readers are prompted to do a variety of activities before the turn of every page, colors and decorations are added to the tree. After the last decoration, a star, is put on the tree, readers need to "turn out the lights" in the book and say good night. Jones adds narration that enhances the interactions in this story, including asking questions, making observations about what readers did, and providing compliments as the garland and ornaments are added. When an ornament breaks, Jones deals with it in an easygoing manner and uses a fun clean-up method. VERDICT This is for children who enjoy books like Press Here by Hervé Tullet. With the clapping, singing, tapping, and shaking children will be doing as this story is told, it's a sure hit for the Christmas holidays for both readers and the audience.—Tanya Boudreau - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/15/2023 Beginning with the distinctive shape of a plain Christmas tree against a white background, this picture book invites young children to decorate it. The narrator guides them with brief, encouraging suggestions such as “Tap the tree to add some lights” or “Now, clap your hands to turn them on.” Each time (after kids blink their eyes, knock on the tree, shake the book, etc.), a turn of the page reveals the latest transformation. The digitally enhanced cut-paper illustrations create a look that is orderly and inviting. Even when decorations almost cover the tree, the effect isn’t overcrowded, but joyful. Jones takes a refreshingly simple approach in this interactive book, and it works beautifully. Page turns are used intelligently to both raise and satisfy viewers’ expectations of change. And when an ornament falls to the floor and breaks, the narrator is reassuring, saying, “That’s okay. Accidents happen. Can you blow the broken pieces away?” Of course they can! This book becomes a safe space where young children can share the fun of decorating a Christmas tree. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
