Squishy Mcfluff: Secret Santa

Squishy McFluff #4

by Pip Jones

The festive fourth book in this fantastically successful new series for 4-6-year-old readers about Ava and her imaginary cat, in hilarious rhyming text with adorable illustrations. Told in full colour throughout, this is the perfect stepping stone from picture books to older fiction.

Ava and Squishy are back and this time their adorable chaos hits Christmas preparations for Mum, Dad, baby Roo, the local Christmas fete and much, much more . . . In her letter to Santa, Ava only has one wish. Will she get what her heart desires on Christmas day?

Rising star Pip Jones continues to give her quirky twist to everyday experiences in this warm and humorous series. The jaunty rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud, and Ella Okstad's gorgeous, distinctive illustrations will help more confident readers learn to read by themselves for the first time.

Genres: Christmas, Childrens, Holiday, Animals

80 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

Pip was born in Cheltenham, UK, where she spent her childhood gobbling up books and dreaming about being an author herself. At the age of 19, she began a career in journalism, writing and editing for local and national newspapers and magazines. After the births of her daughters, Pip began writing for parenting magazines and websites. In 2012, she won the inaugural Greenhouse Funny Prize, with a series of stories about Squishy McFluff: The Invisible Cat, who Pip had based on her elder daughter's 'real' imaginary kitten. The first book in the series was published by Faber Children's in 2014. Pip's first picture book, Daddy's Sandwich, was published by Faber Children's in May 2015 and was shortlisted in the Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards Picture Book category in the same year. Pip continues to write the Squishy McFluff series, and a raft of new titles are planned in the coming three years, including three further picture books, and a new young reader series. Watch this space!

Reviews

[Pınar Aydoğdu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Christmas story...

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squishy McFluff: Secret Santa is an adorable, clever and funny story. I want to read them all!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squishy McFluff and Ava have their biggest challenge yet. They have to be perfectly behaved so Santa will bring them presents for Christmas. Can these two stay out of trouble?

I said these two's visit to Nana Dot was my favorite Squishy McFluff book so far, but this might have supplanted that one. Ava and Squishy are genuinely trying to be helpful but manage to accidentally create some...interesting situations with their helpful actions. (This one reminded me of the Amelia Bedelia books. Ava takes some things a little too literally, and gets so focused on fixing one thing she creates a huge mess in the process.) It was great to see Ava and Squishy being good for a change, and it was also great to see Ava meet her psychological match. A nice, rhyming lower grade read aloud with humorous moments.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming book that reminded us both very much of Dr Seuss. We are reading the books out of order (which doesn't impact our enjoyment). I love how in-depth her imagination is and how she has such good intentions (despite being oblivious to consequences). I love child-centred books like these (though parents will certainly be aware of how the parents are likely to be feeling when the instructions to 'wrap everything in the lounge' get taken a little too literally). I also like that, ultimately, the books validate her feelings in a positive way. Appealing to neuro-typical kids but perhaps also especially to autistic and ADHD kids.

Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava and Squishy are so excited for Christmas they can barely stand it. With four more sleeps, then three then two, Christmas finally comes.

All the excitement of waiting for Christmas is so nicely captured in this short humorous story. Ava and Squishy try so hard to be helpful and to stay out of trouble, but that can prove to be quite hard to do. I liked the ending as Ava's Christmas wish is something non-material and it still preserves the "magic" of Christmas little ones still hold onto.

[Kamila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Czytałam w polskiej wersji językowej. Krótki wierszowany, rymowany tekst dla dzieci w wieku 6-9 lat czy nawet młodszych - wg okładki 4+. Dzięki rymom tym przyjemniej się czyta. Mało tekstu więc idealna też jako jedna z pierwszych lektur dla dzieci zaczynających przygodę z czytaniem. Fajny, świąteczny klimat

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ava and Squishy make some messes unintentionally while trying to be helpful before Christmas. They meet Santa who teaches them that everyone makes mistakes and what is important is the condition of your heart.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo cute!!!

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just continues with the adorable cuteness. Every time I open a Squishy McFluff adventure I’m yet again taken in by Pip Jones and her storytelling and rhymes. Plus of course Ella Okstad’s wonderful illustrations.

In this Secret Santa adventure Ava and her imaginary cat (or is he really? I mean just because grown-ups can’t see him…) are ever so excited about Christmas, too excited to sleep really. As the important day and that visit from Santa draws nearer Ava ‘helps’ – though it doesn’t necessarily work out as intended.

I think these books are so sweet and when I receive one I can’t help but smile. Don’t care an ounce that I’m supposedly a grown-up. It’s still a wonderful Christmas read.

[Eliatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fourth and fantastic book in the Squishy McFluff series is perfect for reading out loud and bringing the joy of rhythmic language and clever writing to kids. They make the perfect bedtime story - one mum actually enjoys reading.

I do so love the delightfully naughty Ava and her mischievous kitten - this series only failing is that it may give my cheeky four year old ideas!

We'll be enjoying this series for years to come - they make great early readers too, with their short chapter structure making them feel like a proper big kid book. My eight year old is still very taken by Squish.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are great for 5-8 readers who are learning. The story has rhyming text so they can try to guess what the word is at the end. My daughter is 4 and loves me reading it to her. It is a much loved stocking filler .

[Jo Wakeham · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were give the whole series for a xmas present, my children, 3 and 6, love them so much. Amazingly, I'm not bored of reading them. Phew.