How to Wait for Christmas

How to Wait for Christmas (Grace Bell Publishing) RA Stephens and Novia Heroante PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781923534063

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

December arrives Jemma can’t wait for Christmas. The Advent Calendar shows there are many sleeps to go… With Mum, Dad, and her brother Luke, Jemma counts down the days until Christmas with lots of activities. Maybe Christmas is more than just one day.

R. A. Stephens is published in both educational and trade markets. Her Riz Chester series included The Fingerprint Code, which was shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Awards (2024). She has completed her Master's in Editing in Publishing.

Novia Heroanto is a children’s book illustrator who has a background in early childhood education and graphic design. Her heartfelt, character-rich illustrations enrich stories with joy and meaning.

R.A. Stephens has written about the true meaning of Christmas. She says, ‘Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. Christian values and traditions are recognised and their meaning. True values of family, kindness, giving and receiving are joyfully showcased as Jemma counts down until Christmas.’

 It’s hard to wait when you are a child; Stephens shows this with a well-thought-out text and thoughtful child dialogue. ‘I don’t think I can wait anymore.’  The Christian Advent calendar allows the story to share many family-centred Christmas activities that have Christian values and traditions. The Nativity scene and its importance are shared.

This book helps children understand the real meaning behind Christmas. As the Advent calendar’s windows are opened, family love abounds. We see joyful Christmas songs, creating cards, decorations, wrapping paper, baking mince pies, watching Christmas movies and putting up lights. These activities beautifully capture the lead-up to Christmas, but they also give readers a book to visit and revisit, using the ideas to create their own family Christmas traditions. It’s wonderful that the family also includes the grandparents. All those feelings of excitement and longing for Christmas to arrive are captured. The calendar cleverly brings in mathematics with the counting down and how many days are left. The title is perfect: How to Wait for Christmas.

Novia Hercanto’s illustrations are happy and bright and do delight. The blue, red and yellow cover is eye-catching with a Christmas vibe and an Advent calendar front and centre. The red endpapers give a Christmas nod.  Hercanto’s illustrations bring lots of childhood energy and joy to life. Everyday life and suburbia are captured realistically with lots of heart. Perspective is used to advantage, zooming in and out where needed. Soft toys become silent characters. The family dog features, and I adore the dog’s Christmas suit. A gingerbread house-making party brings in more characters to layer the story with meaning without cluttering it. Australian life in a neighbourhood is depicted, and it allows Australian children to see their own culture in a book, so they too can see themselves in the story. What’s not to love about a book that showcases an Australian Christmas and the true meaning behind Christmas?

How to Wait for Christmas is written for children aged 3-8 years, and it makes a great gift or Christmas read. Commercially, this book has great appeal at Christmas time. I can see this book appealing to children, parents, teachers and librarians.