Getting children to pick up a book and read can be quite a difficult task, especially in a world where screens play a big part of our lives. But coming into December, where the lights twinkle and colourful decorations are everywhere, there’s something undeniably magical about children’s Christmas books. Each festive-themed story has the unique power to enchant its young readers and get them into the holiday spirit. At a time of year when children’s imaginations run wild, curling up with a Christmas tale becomes a cherished tradition. Among the growing collection of favourite seasonal books, The Best Christmas Present Ever by Ben Mantle is as a heartwarming, humorous and beautifully illustrated story that captures the true spirit of the holidays with charm and wit.
The Best Christmas Present Ever is a children’s picture book, written and illustrated by Ben Mantle. A Christmas-themed tale, it is essentially a fun story of friendship, creativity and the occasional hiccup that comes with trying to make someone else happy. The story follows Bear and his very best friend Squirrel as they prepare for Christmas. Squirrel is an enthusiastic gift-giver and has got Bear such a great gift, but Bear is quite forgetful, forgetting to get Squirrel something for the big day. With four days left, this makes Bear all the more determined to make Squirrel the perfect present. But as hard as he tries, with many well-intentioned plans and lots of effort, things don’t go quite as he wants, that is until he has the perfect idea. From his disastrous crafting attempts to perfect inspiration, it is a hilarious journey and one that readers can relate to, especially to those children who always want to give the best possible gift.
Overall, The Best Christmas Present Ever! is an excellent story of a good friendship and determination, not to impress, Bear genuinely wants to show Squirrel just how much he cares. Children will delight in Bear’s attempts at making the perfect present: a jumper that’s more hole than wool, a painting that looks like a storm hit it and a rocking chair that rocks a little too enthusiastically.
With fun and simple text, it is an engaging story for its young readers, one that is easy to follow and relate to. The storytelling is perfect, travelling along at a gentle pace where each of Bear’s mishaps builds the tension towards a ultimately happy and satisfying conclusion. It is written with a gentle humour that never mocks Bear’s efforts, but instead celebrates his earnestness and resilience. Plus it also allows for discussion about friendship, determination and perseverance.
And being a picture book, obviously it has wonderful illustrations on every page, also by Ben Mantle. Visually, the book is a delightful treat, full of colour and humour, which really bring out the storytelling. The bright and colourful illustrations are full of detailed warmth, bringing the settings and Bear’s attempts to life with cosy details and expressive characters.
It is an excellent story not only about the joy of giving but to demonstrate to children who struggle with perfectionism or fear of failure may find some comfort in. All the gifts Bear makes are created with lots of love and plenty of effort, and that’s what truly matters at the end of the day. The final twist, with his finished quirky, heartfelt masterpiece, helps to reinforce the idea that effort and thoughtfulness are more important than perfectionism and have a lot more meaning.
Ben Mantle’s The Best Christmas Present Ever! is a fantastic festive story. It wonderfully blends humour, heart and holiday cheer into a story that’s both entertaining and emotionally rich. For readers of Young Page Turners, it’s a wonderful tale that is not only fun to read but can help to spark conversations about friendship, creativity and the magic of making something with love. An excellent bedtime or classroom read, this book is sure to leave young readers smiling – and who knows, maybe it will even inspire young readers to make their own unique and unforgettable gifts.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback) / £2.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
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