It's a sunny summer's Christmas Day in New Zealand. Santa is having a fun day at the beach, surfing and cooking a barbecue for Mrs Claus and his reindeer.
This catchy new sing-along song by well-known New Zealand entertainer Suzy Cato and the Itty Bitty Beats will be a hit. Finally, there's a song and book that reflects Christmas Day as we know it in New Zealand - in summer, not a snowflake in sight.
It's a very simple song, which little ones will pick up quickly. The song is available to download or stream, and Cato and the Itty Bitty Beats duo (Jenny Payne and Lucy Hiku) have also made a fun video to accompany the song.
Carla Martell's whimsical and quirky illustrations, in a fresh and funky palette, offer much for young readers to spot. There's plenty of Kiwi icons - bright pōhutukawa blooms, flitting pīwakawaka, and puffy pavlova. But hidden within those uniquely New Zealand scenes, there's classic Christmas icons too - with snowmen, Santa hats and Christmas tree ornaments hiding within the pages.
It might not seem like such a big deal, but any New Zealand parent will tell you it can be a little confusing for our little people come Christmas. There's winter themes galore, and it can be very hard to find things that reflect our reality. Christmas in Summer ticks that box, making it a great gift for any younger Kiwi reader.
Christmas in Summer is a fun and upbeat book and song that is bound to put a smile on your face. It's been an incredible year. This book will add a bit of much needed spontaneity and joy, and a Kiwi flavour, to Christmas this year.
Reviewed by: Rebekah Lyell
Scholastic, RRP $19.99