Juniper’s Christmas
Eoin Colfer
Santa Vigil is held every year in Cedar Park, something 12-year-old Juniper’s father started after Santa had gone missing for four years. due to his love of Christmas. What started as a simple carol-singing event, now nearly ten years later, has morphed into a huge celebration. People dressed as Santas and elves and reindeer, and brought donations for the needy to help them get through the cold weather. Although Briar Lane has died a few years back, Juniper and her mother Jennifer Lane keep the annual event alive. But suddenly, Jennifer has gone missing. Also, the regional park director, Dafydd Carnegie, is determined to end Sant Vigil and eliminate all the homeless residents from his parks.
Duchess, a resident in Cedar Park, has recently had her accommodations upgraded by Niko, a grumpy man who often fixes broken items in the park. He’s built a comfortable sort of knob in a tree that would keep her warm. Others in the park, also receive these “Armadillos” as Juniper refers to them. Duchess will reveal nothing more about this mysterious man, but he is known as the Angel of Cedar Park and apparently, he can find whatever it is a person needs. Juniper decides that Niko can probably help her find her mother too. Also, after Duchess lets a few things slip, Juniper is also convinced that he is Santa Claus in hiding.
Juniper does all the things one does to find a missing person…reporting to the police, checking hospitals, putting up posters…and now she plans a way to have Niko come to her and help find her mother. She deliberately breaks a cog in Dutchess’ Armadillo so the old man will have to fix it. It works and Juniper catches him in the act, but he correctly assumes she needs something and refuses to listen. As he runs to escape, Juniper follows him into the woods where it appears he has set up his own microclimate including snow and reindeer. Blixxen has escaped his enclosure after eating a stick of rhubarb, which makes reindeer crazy, and Niko knows the girl could now be in danger from the maniacal beast. He grabs his magic boots to help locate Blixxen, knowing that this bit of magic might reveal himself to his elves who have searched for him since he went missing. If they can’t find him before the tenth year of the magic bag used to hold all the presents going missing, all the magic will disappear and there will no longer be a Santa Claus.
Luckily Niko stops the reindeer from trampling Juniper just in time. Unluckily he needs to bring her inside his vinterhus where Juniper confronts him about his identity. Niko denies everything and sings a magic lullaby to her causing her to lose all memory. He plans to return to Juniper home when she accidently imprints with a young reindeer calf named Skaara.
From here all turmoil lets loose. Juniper realizes that Skaar is her personal reindeer and she rides around the city searching for her mother. Evil Trude Madden and her thugs are hired to incinerate all the donations collected for the Santa Vigil, and realize Juniper and her reindeer have a magical bag when Juniper attempts to collect all the donations before they are destroyed by putting them inside the bag. Things only get worse for Niko, Skaara, Juniper, and Duchess who becomes gravely ill by all the magic surrounding her.
This is such a fun romp by one of my favorite authors Eoin Colfer. A good Christmas story filled with magic and the myths and legends of Santa Claus. Suitable for ages 10 and up, it’s a bit longer at 350 pages. The beautiful cover of Skaar and Juniper depicts Juniper as a black child, which is how the text describes her. There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book which is nice since they help to visualize what the tree Armadillos look like for instance, but they show Juniper as a white child. Very clever story.
Eoin Colfer
Santa Vigil is held every year in Cedar Park, something 12-year-old Juniper’s father started after Santa had gone missing for four years. due to his love of Christmas. What started as a simple carol-singing event, now nearly ten years later, has morphed into a huge celebration. People dressed as Santas and elves and reindeer, and brought donations for the needy to help them get through the cold weather. Although Briar Lane has died a few years back, Juniper and her mother Jennifer Lane keep the annual event alive. But suddenly, Jennifer has gone missing. Also, the regional park director, Dafydd Carnegie, is determined to end Sant Vigil and eliminate all the homeless residents from his parks.
Duchess, a resident in Cedar Park, has recently had her accommodations upgraded by Niko, a grumpy man who often fixes broken items in the park. He’s built a comfortable sort of knob in a tree that would keep her warm. Others in the park, also receive these “Armadillos” as Juniper refers to them. Duchess will reveal nothing more about this mysterious man, but he is known as the Angel of Cedar Park and apparently, he can find whatever it is a person needs. Juniper decides that Niko can probably help her find her mother too. Also, after Duchess lets a few things slip, Juniper is also convinced that he is Santa Claus in hiding.
Juniper does all the things one does to find a missing person…reporting to the police, checking hospitals, putting up posters…and now she plans a way to have Niko come to her and help find her mother. She deliberately breaks a cog in Dutchess’ Armadillo so the old man will have to fix it. It works and Juniper catches him in the act, but he correctly assumes she needs something and refuses to listen. As he runs to escape, Juniper follows him into the woods where it appears he has set up his own microclimate including snow and reindeer. Blixxen has escaped his enclosure after eating a stick of rhubarb, which makes reindeer crazy, and Niko knows the girl could now be in danger from the maniacal beast. He grabs his magic boots to help locate Blixxen, knowing that this bit of magic might reveal himself to his elves who have searched for him since he went missing. If they can’t find him before the tenth year of the magic bag used to hold all the presents going missing, all the magic will disappear and there will no longer be a Santa Claus.
Luckily Niko stops the reindeer from trampling Juniper just in time. Unluckily he needs to bring her inside his vinterhus where Juniper confronts him about his identity. Niko denies everything and sings a magic lullaby to her causing her to lose all memory. He plans to return to Juniper home when she accidently imprints with a young reindeer calf named Skaara.
From here all turmoil lets loose. Juniper realizes that Skaar is her personal reindeer and she rides around the city searching for her mother. Evil Trude Madden and her thugs are hired to incinerate all the donations collected for the Santa Vigil, and realize Juniper and her reindeer have a magical bag when Juniper attempts to collect all the donations before they are destroyed by putting them inside the bag. Things only get worse for Niko, Skaara, Juniper, and Duchess who becomes gravely ill by all the magic surrounding her.
This is such a fun romp by one of my favorite authors Eoin Colfer. A good Christmas story filled with magic and the myths and legends of Santa Claus. Suitable for ages 10 and up, it’s a bit longer at 350 pages. The beautiful cover of Skaar and Juniper depicts Juniper as a black child, which is how the text describes her. There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book which is nice since they help to visualize what the tree Armadillos look like for instance, but they show Juniper as a white child. Very clever story.
WinterFrost
Michelle Houts
On Christmas eve in Denmark, it is tradition to leave a bowl of Christmas rice pudding for the family nisse, a tiny gnome-like creature that potentially lives with generations of a family, in their house or barn, to help out as they can with livestock or keeping the woodfires burning. Bettina’s family forgets this tradition one year in the middle of a family crisis as her parents must suddenly travel, leaving her in charge of the house, barn, and baby sister Pia. All are convinced Bettina is up to the task, and she is, until the disgruntled nisse, Klakke, acts in retaliation for his hurt feelings. Now, during the days of a crystalline winterfrost, Bettina must take action to fix the mess Klakke has started by entering into the world of nisse she wasn’t sure she even believed existed. This is a really fun story full of mischief as well as good deeds, and makes a great winter or Christmas tale for readers ages 8-12 who enjoy magical stories. As well, it provides an opportunity to learn about local legends, customs and traditions in Denmark, which are so different from our own in the United States.
Michelle Houts
On Christmas eve in Denmark, it is tradition to leave a bowl of Christmas rice pudding for the family nisse, a tiny gnome-like creature that potentially lives with generations of a family, in their house or barn, to help out as they can with livestock or keeping the woodfires burning. Bettina’s family forgets this tradition one year in the middle of a family crisis as her parents must suddenly travel, leaving her in charge of the house, barn, and baby sister Pia. All are convinced Bettina is up to the task, and she is, until the disgruntled nisse, Klakke, acts in retaliation for his hurt feelings. Now, during the days of a crystalline winterfrost, Bettina must take action to fix the mess Klakke has started by entering into the world of nisse she wasn’t sure she even believed existed. This is a really fun story full of mischief as well as good deeds, and makes a great winter or Christmas tale for readers ages 8-12 who enjoy magical stories. As well, it provides an opportunity to learn about local legends, customs and traditions in Denmark, which are so different from our own in the United States.
Avery's Pumpkin
Kerrie Hollihan
Avery’s school is preparing for the Halloween Pageant and Avery intends to enter the pumpkin contest. He wants to enter the most original category and makes it his number one priority to beat his tormenter Jeremy, who relentlessly calls him “Average Avery.” His mother has promised to help him prepare since it’s meant to be a family project, but his plans are immediately hindered when his parents are called away and his grandfather from Ireland has just arrived to stay with him. Now he won’t be able to even get a pumpkin! Avery and Grandfather slowly become acquainted with each other, Avery learns Irish folklore about Stingy Jack and the story of the first jack-o-lantern. He also learns Grandfather is really good at carving with a knife. With two days to go and still no pumpkin, Avery shares his dilemma with Grandfather and the pair forge a plan. Together they are able to produce an original pumpkin, but on the night of the Halloween Pageant, Jeremy pulls one more trick on Avery. But maybe the trick is on Jeremy after all, as he can’t seem to see what others see.
Just in time for Halloween! This short and easy-to-read tale will inspire young readers ages 8-12 to perhaps make a glowing pumpkin of their own. With Irish folklore about Stingy Jack and jack-o-lanterns, kids may have a new appreciation for their carved creations. The cover in Halloween colors gives readers an idea of what Avery and his pumpkin look like. Additional black and white illustrations throughout complement the story. Such a sweet story with a message similar to Polar Express about the need to believe in order to see the magic. The author provides a bit of information in the back about details in the book for additional context.
Kerrie Hollihan
Avery’s school is preparing for the Halloween Pageant and Avery intends to enter the pumpkin contest. He wants to enter the most original category and makes it his number one priority to beat his tormenter Jeremy, who relentlessly calls him “Average Avery.” His mother has promised to help him prepare since it’s meant to be a family project, but his plans are immediately hindered when his parents are called away and his grandfather from Ireland has just arrived to stay with him. Now he won’t be able to even get a pumpkin! Avery and Grandfather slowly become acquainted with each other, Avery learns Irish folklore about Stingy Jack and the story of the first jack-o-lantern. He also learns Grandfather is really good at carving with a knife. With two days to go and still no pumpkin, Avery shares his dilemma with Grandfather and the pair forge a plan. Together they are able to produce an original pumpkin, but on the night of the Halloween Pageant, Jeremy pulls one more trick on Avery. But maybe the trick is on Jeremy after all, as he can’t seem to see what others see.
Just in time for Halloween! This short and easy-to-read tale will inspire young readers ages 8-12 to perhaps make a glowing pumpkin of their own. With Irish folklore about Stingy Jack and jack-o-lanterns, kids may have a new appreciation for their carved creations. The cover in Halloween colors gives readers an idea of what Avery and his pumpkin look like. Additional black and white illustrations throughout complement the story. Such a sweet story with a message similar to Polar Express about the need to believe in order to see the magic. The author provides a bit of information in the back about details in the book for additional context.