Review - One Wild Christmas

One Wild Christmas (Life in the Wild)
by Nicholas Oldland
Date: 2019
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Best friends the bear, the moose and the beaver have been so busy getting ready for Christmas, they have forgotten the most important decoration of all - the Christmas tree! Rushing through the snowy forest, they reject one tree after another. And then they spot it. A pine tree that is just the right size, with soft needles and a wonderful scent - it's perfect! But just as the beaver is about to chop it down, the bear stops him. He can't allow this tree to be harmed, it is simply too beautiful! But the moose and the beaver disagree. Is there a way they can have a perfect Christmas - without chopping down the perfect tree?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've read all five of the other books in this series, so when I saw that there was a Christmas title, I knew I had to give it a try. It's filled with humour and heart, just like the other books, but this one has a decidedly wintry flavour.

The bear, the moose, and the beaver are preparing for Christmas at their cabin in the woods. They cook, wrap presents, hang stockings, and decorate... but when it comes time to trim the tree, they realize they don't have one! So they grab their sled and go off in search of the perfect tree. They eventually find it, but to the bear's horror, his friends want to chop it down! Now, if you've read Big Bear Hug, you'll know that the bear is all about conserving his precious forest, so he does everything he can to stop the beaver and the moose from cutting down that tree. It seems that they can't have a Christmas tree after all. Or... can they?

The message about friendship and compromise is sweet, and how the three friends get there is kind of funny. As usual, the illustrations are deceptively simple yet effective. It's amazing how much emotion Oldland manages to convey even though his characters don't really have changing facial expressions.

Fans of the Life in the Wild series will probably want to add this book to their collection, but it will probably appeal to those looking for solid Christmas picture books as well. Overall, it's a strong holiday picture book with a nice message... which isn't always the easiest thing to find.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5