We all know that Christmas is a little bit different in the Southern hemisphere, with hot weather, barbeques and time spent at the beach. So our Youth Services librarians have compiled some beaut Christmas books that show how it’s done Down Under!
Enjoy some of Australia’s perennial favourite authors and illustrators: the ever-delightful illustrations of May Gibbs with A Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Christmas and Christmas wombat by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Feel the realities of a hot Christmas, with moving stories like Applesauce and the Christmas miracle by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King, or All I want for Christmas is rain by Cori Brooke. Find funny, endearing versions of the classics, including An Aussie night before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison and K Niland, We wish you a ripper Christmas by Colin Buchanan and Christmas at Grandma’s beach house by Claire Saxby.
The Aussie ABC Christmas by Nancy Bevington
We wish you a ripper Christmas by Colin Buchanan
All I want for Christmas is rain by Cori Brooke
Christmas wonder by Vikki Conley
Macca’s Christmas crackers by Matt Cosgrove
A very Wombat Christmas by Lachlan Creagh
Santa’s gone surfing by Paul Crumble
Reindeer’s Christmas surprise by Ursula Dubosarsky
Santa’s outback secret by Mike Dumbleton and Tom Jellett
Ho, ho, ho! There’s a hippopotamus on our roof eating Christmas cake by Hazel Edwards
Santa’s Aussie Holiday by Maria Farrer and Anna Walker
The bush Santa by Mandy Foot
Wombat Divine by Mem Fox and Kerry Argent
Christmas wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
A Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Christmas by May Gibbs, text by Mark MacLeod
Excuse me, Santa by Dave Hughes
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer by Johnny Marks
Count my Christmas kisses by Ruthie May and Tamsin Ainslie
Applesauce and the Christmas miracle by Glenda Millard and Stephen Michael King
An Aussie night before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison and K. Niland
The stink before Christmas by Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes
A very sparkly Christmas by Anna Pignataro
The first Christmas by Jess Racklyeft
Christmas at Grandma’s beach house by Claire Saxby
My merry Christmas by Rosie Smith and Bruce Whatley
I love Christmas by Anna Walker
A very quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James
This little piggy went singing by Margaret Wild
More recommended reading
To view booklists on a variety of subjects, visit our Booklists page.