Australian Christmas Picture Books for Kids

Aussie Versions of New and Popular Christmas Stories for Children

Oct 1, 2008

There is an increasing number of children's picture books available that celebrate what it means to enjoy Christmas "Down Under".

For Australian children, winter Christmas stories are fun but do not bear any resemblance to their own experiences. Reading Christmas stories featuring native animals and familiar scenes and traditions can help to build excitement heading into the Christmas season.

Australian Adaptations of Traditional Christmas Stories and Songs

An Aussie Night Before Christmas (Scholastic Australia 2005) by Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland and An Aussie Day Before Christmas (Scholastic Australia, 2008) by Kilmeny Niland.

From Santa wearing a poinsettia covered shirt to the sleigh replaced by a Holden ute pulled by kangaroos, this story adapts the traditional Night Before Christmas and gives it a distinctly Australian flavour. Not only are the illustrations more familiar, but the language is also adapted including Santa’s final farewell of “Merry Christmas to all, and goodonya mates!” An Aussie Night Before Christmas activity and sticker books are also available.

Aussie Jingle Bells (Scholastic Australia, 2006) by Colin Buchanan and Nick Bland

Nick Bland’s illustrations offer a glimpse of a typical Aussie Christmas – cricket in the backyard and a barbecue by the swimming pool with extended family. Tamworth Golden Guitar winner Colin Buchanan adapts the familiar Jingle Bells lyrics to celebrate an Australian Christmas Day. The book is accompanied by a CD recording of Colin singing Aussie Jingle Bells and an activity book is also available.

In an adaptation of the traditional carol of the same name, Aussie bloke Dave receives a gift from his love Mabel. Unfortunately, as the crate containing his gift (an emu) is dropped by the passing Australia Post helicopter, it gets caught in a gum tree. Thus begins the song, with an emu in a gum tree. A parade of native animals arrive to help rescue the stranded emu including galahs, numbats, kookaburras, jabirus and wombats.

John McIntosh’s lovely and amusing animal illustrations accompany the text, which comprises the lyrics of the carol and an additional story in verse as each new group of animals arrives. The piano score for the song is included.

Australian Christmas Stories

Fair Dinkum Aussie Christmas (Scholastic Australia, 2007) by Bucko and Champs (Colin Buchanan and Greg Champion). Illustrations by Kilmeny Niland.

With adaptations of popular traditional Christmas carols, such as Deck the Shed with Bits of Wattle and We Wish you a Ripper Christmas, and original songs such as He’s the Aussie Santa, Australian kids will love this fun book with accompanying CD by Colin. The final track, Australians Let Us Barbecue is sung to the tune of the Australian National Anthem.

The Golden Kangaroo (Scholastic Australia, 2004) by Garrison Valentine, illustrations by Glen Singleton.

With an accompanying CD featuring the voice of Australian balladeer John Williamson, this story features the well-known tale of Santa getting stranded in Australia when his reindeer can’t handle the tough summer conditions. With the precedent well-set by Rolf Harris’ Six White Boomers, The Golden Kangaroo rescues Santa and saves Christmas.

The combination of French and Whatley always produces charming, enjoyable picture books. In their latest collaboration, they tell the story of the ever cheerful Emily the Emu, who is so filled with the Christmas spirit she can’t bear to see anyone sad, even the grumpy old bunyip. Emily, her music group The Shaggy Gully Chorus and other local animals attempt to bring a smile to the face of the bunyip and in doing so will certainly bring smiles to the faces of adults and children alike.

Share some Aussie Christmas Spirit

These Australian Christmas picture books are ideal gifts for Australian family or friends living overseas. Children will love them and adults will smile at the charming and sometimes quite amusing illustrations.

The copyright of the article Australian Christmas Picture Books for Kids in Australian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Australian Christmas Picture Books for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.