Title: Christmas is Love
Subtitle: #2 Of The Magical Forest Series
Author: Dawn Harvey Kittle
Illustrator: Kim Sawyer
Publisher: URLink Print and Media
ISBN: 978-1684865796
Pages: 18
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Hollywood Book Reviews
In this charming Christmas-themed story by author Dawn Harvey Kittle, readers are brought into a forest during winter where a fluffle of personified rabbits are frolicking on a frozen lake, skating around. Betty Bunny, a floppy-eared bunny was showing off how she could spin on her skates which brought to her mind a memory past, when her mother made carrot jelly using the “ugly-looking” carrots because once they were cut open, they all were the same as the lovely orange ones, pointing out that everyone is the same on the inside. Betty notices Beatrix was standing on the border of the lake in the treeline, not skating – when asked, she learned it was because her family couldn’t afford skates.
Beatrix had an idea, and said to her grandmother maybe she could work at the Acorn General Store – sweeping up in order to save money to buy Beatrix skates. Chet, the store owner, thought it would be a good idea and gave Beatrix a job right away.
The next day at school the teacher put all of the rabbits’ names in a hat to draw out who should buy gifts for others, and Beatrix had to buy one for the class – meaning she wouldn’t have enough forest money to use for skates. Charlie the chipmunk told Beatrix the story of the Three Wise Men in the Christmas story who brought gifts to the Christ child, and that is why gift-giving is practiced to commemorate this exchange.
Dawn Harvey Kittle has some very endearing and clever uses of imaginary foods, activities and behaviors of these furry creatures. For example, she writes, “The big day finally arrived, and excitement filled the classroom. The children enjoyed turnip chips and acorn and lemongrass cupcakes with carrot juice to wash them down.” Humm, acorn and lemongrass cupcakes sure sound delicious! Furthermore, the illustrations are hand-drawn with enough detail to allow readers’ imaginations to be transported into this forest-world where bunnies live a human-like existence.
As the story ends on a happy note, readers are once again told it is better to give than to receive. Christmas is Love is certainly an ideal gift to give to families with youngsters, so they could receive the loving and entertaining messages woven throughout this imaginative fanciful book.