Title: Friends of the Enchanted Forest: How They Save Christmas
Author: Glenda Crenshaw
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media
ISBN: 978-1-6-4908-866-6
Pages: 30
Genre: Children’s book
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Hollywood Book Reviews
This is a delightful story about five friends: Sweetie, the skunk, Jumper, the fox, Sticky, the raccoon, Billy the porcupine, and Charlie the monkey. They lived in the Enchanted Forest. All had unique individual abilities. Each winter just before Christmas, the five friends would get together and make a list for Santa. Each one would ask something for the others and nothing for themselves. That was the way of the Enchanted Forest.
On their way to give Santa their wishes, they encounter Santa and his reindeers frozen on a sleigh. Sensing that he and his animals could be in danger of being frozen to death, they go to visit the wise old owl hoping that he would help them save Santa. The owl instructs them to go to the far end of the forest, Ice Castle, and get the witch’s wand. Only then can they save Christmas. He adds that they are to each use their special abilities on their way through the forest and getting the witch’s wand. He however gives them a condition: that they must save Santa before his run begins on Christmas Eve. He gives them 5 things: a rope, some food, water, paint that glows in the dark, and coats for them to wear in Iceland. Will the five friends succeed in saving Santa before Christmas and defeat the evil witch before taking her wand?
This is a simple, tender tale in which resilience, hope, and connectedness triumph. Author Glenda Crenshaw succeeds at interweaving a human holiday, magical elements and an animated natural world and having it all make sense. The book cover is aesthetically pleasing and I found the color coordination to be exquisite.
Friends of the Enchanted Forest: How They Save Christmas has colorful illustrations that young readers will enjoy. The book explores themes young readers are familiar with such as empathy. The vocabulary used is easy for every child to understand. The different color themes used in the drawings are symbolic of what is happening at each stage and sets the mood in the different scenes. My favorite character was Charlie who was willing to offer himself as bait for an angry big bird that was charging at them, so his friends could get away and make it up to the top.
The author has created a satisfactory ending that will fulfill a young reader’s curiosity. This swiftly moving yet contemplative read is great for early middle grade or even as a class reader for young learners.