M. Christina Butler

M. Christina Butler, author of the adorable Little Hedgehog books, here spins a gentle Christmas Eve tale in which a series of animal families observe a bright star in the sky, and are filled with wonder. Told in rhyming verse - "Fox and her cubs / see a star shining bright, / Filling the world / with its silvery light" - with each page bringing the reader closer to the shiny star, which can be seen through the die-cut pages, A Star So Bright concludes with the animals gathered round the show more Baby Jesus, underneath a twinkling light.

Having recently become a fan of English author M. Christina Butler's picture-books about Little Hedgehog, I thought I might try something else she had done, so when I saw this Christmas tale on display at my library, I immediately snatched it up! I'm glad I did, as it is a sweet little book, with gentle text and cute artwork that would make it an excellent bedtime selection. The light display at the end is a nice touch, especially for younger children who like some kind of interactive element. Recommended to younger, preschool children who enjoy "sparkly" books, or cute Christmas stories featuring animals. show less

Little Hedgehog and his friends gather together for Christmas in this eleventh picture-book devoted to their adventures, putting up and decorating a tree, enjoying skating during the day and cozy cookie-making parties at night. But when ornaments start going missing from their tree, Badger insists that he hears someone snoring in the night, despite the denials of all of the other animals, and Little Hedgehog's fuzzy red hat goes missing, it looks like there is a mystery afoot. Fortunately, show more the solution to the puzzle - a little squirrel, asleep in the fir tree they cut down as a Christmas tree, had been inadvertently transported to Little Hedgehog's house - leads to the making of a new friend, and a wonderful Christmas...

Like its many predecessors, One Cozy Christmas pairs a sweet, heartwarming tale from author M. Christina Butler, and cute artwork from illustrator Tina Macnaughton. Also like its predecessors, there is an interactive element here, in the form of Little Hedgehog's hat, which is depicted in a fuzzy velvet-type material on the page, providing a touch-and-feel element to the reading experience. This is the fourth in the series to be set at Christmas, which also features in subsequent entries. Although I wouldn't describe these books as earth-shattering, they are sweet, and (much like the title here) cozy. Recommended to fans of Little Hedgehog, and to picture-book readers seeking heartwarming friendship stories. show less

Little Hedgehog returns in this eighth picture-book devoted to his adventures, this time inviting all of his friends over for a sleepover party. But just as he's showing his guests the cozy red blanket he made, so they can all stay warm together, a stray wind carries it away. Immensely distraught at first, our erinaceous hero is comforted by his friends, who each contribute a scrap of fabric to make a new blanket. As the friends piece this new quilt together, each piece reminds them of some show more adventure they had together...

I'm quite a fan of author M. Christina Butler and illustrator Tina Macnaughton's Little Hedgehog picture-book series, which began in 2004 with One Snowy Night, and which now includes fourteen (soon to be fifteen!) titles. One Special Sleepover is the eighth in the series, but the ninth I have read, as I had some trouble tracking it down. Unlike the other titles in the series, it was never published here in the states, which mystifies me, as it is a winsome addition to the body of stories about this cute hedgehog and his woodland friends. I particularly liked that this story showed the friends reminiscing about their previous adventures, as readers familiar with earlier books will be able to recognize some of the incidents mentioned. Recommended to fans of Little Hedgehog, and to picture-book readers looking for cute stories about friendship. show less

Frog wakes up from his winter hibernation in this sweet picture-book from English author/illustrator team M. Christina Butler and Jane Chapman, playing with his friends and then heading to his home in the pond once it gets dark. Arriving at the water however, he finds himself confronting a terrible monster in the nearby reeds, and he rushes back to his friends. One by one, they accompany Frog back to the pond, only to spy the monster themselves. It is only when Badger accompanies the group, show more and mouse gets left behind with the lantern, that the truth is revealed: the animals have been frightened by their own shadows...

A lovely little reassurance story, one which makes good use of its repetitive structure to build up the tension, The Dark, Dark Night demonstrates to the young reader or listener that sometimes the things we are frightened of in the darkness aren't so fearsome after all. The accompanying artwork from Chapman, who has also illustrated Karma Wilson's popular picture-book series about Bear, is lovely, capturing the charm of these animal friends, and the mystery of the dark night around them. Attentive readers/watchers will be able to figure out what all the fuss is about, which will only add to the fun. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for sweet animal stories that offer a reassuring look at something many children find intimidating: namely, the dark. show less