Christmas for Greta and Gracie

by Yasmeen Ismail

Greta and Gracie are sisters – Greta is chatty while Gracie is quiet and it’s all fine until, one day, everything changes. It’s nearly Christmas and together the sisters decorate the tree, shop for presents and even try a spot of ice-skating! But Greta, of course, always knows best – poor Gracie can’t get a word in edgeways.

Then on Christmas Eve, while Greta is quietly sleeping, Gracie hears a funny noise . . . whatever could it be? She creeps downstairs to investigate, and the next morning her very special revelation leaves chitty chatty Greta lost for words!

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Family

Hardcover

Published September 23, 2015

About the author

Irish-born, Bristol-based Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning author, illustrator and animator. Yasmeen studied at art school in her hometown, Dublin and graduated in 2002. After Yasmeen moved to London she lent her talents to many different projects ranging from advertising to children's publishing.

After moving to London and running a successful animation production company and having worked in varying capacities within it (Director, Designer, Creative, Animator, Producer, Script-writer) Yasmeen found herself writing and illustrating picture books. From her experience with scripts and storyboards she is familiar with writing narratives and working with story lines, and is especially acquainted with editing her work and writing creatively within boundaries. In turn, and as a result of her animating background, her illustrations are bright, fluid and full of energy and movement. She has a love of watercolours, inks and paints and is moving to all sorts of other mediums. Yasmeen has a propensity to experiment and expand in all areas of her work and is constantly trying new ways to improve her writing and drawing.

Currently Yasmeen is writing her fourth book for Bloomsbury UK, and her first for Walker Books, and is working on her first for Nosy Crow and another for Pan Macmillan. She has just completed 2 books for publishers in the USA and has more exciting projects lining up for 2015. She has written and illustrated several more picture books and activity books, which will be released in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

She has just moved to Bristol from London with her husband. They miss their cat very much and spend their evenings talking about her.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Two rabbit sisters are preparing for Christmas, ice skating with other animal friends and shopping. On Christmas eve they hear Father Christmas and go to chat to him and help him put the presents in the stockings.

The illustrations are nice, and I liked the idea of speech bubbles in the illustrations, but I found the plot lacking.

[Margaret]

As educators we are in the unique position, depending on the time spent in a given school district, to teach and learn with brothers and sisters from the same family. It is equally wonderful to see how alike or different they may be. Sometimes a particular behavior will have you inwardly nodding at the similarities between siblings. They are like two peas in the proverbial pod. There are other times when you find it utterly impossible to believe they have been born and raised in the same household.

Truth be told, the longer you know them the more you can see their particular personality traits shine. Christmas for Greta and Gracie (Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, September 27, 2016) written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail introduces to readers two sisters more different than alike. Their story cheerfully points out the value of being exactly who you are. Everyone might be unexpectedly surprised.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, and I thought this was going to be one more "Home for Christmas" book about finding the perfect gifts and decorating the perfect tree... and how this sort of tradition is supposed to be "the true meaning of Christmas."

Now I'm un-gritting my teeth, and smiling a sheepish kind of smile.

In fact, this Christmas story isn't really about Christmas at all -- despite the important doings with Santa Claus. No no...

IMO THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT A SCARY-BOSSY BIG SISTER, GRETA

And it's also a story about the gentle empowerment, and personal growth, of Dormat Little Sister, Gracie.

Oh man, back when I grew up with my little sister, I hope I wasn't as awful as Greta!

What a truly surprising story was brought to us by Yasmeen Ismail, with tenderness baked right in... Just like the most sumptuous chocolate chip at the center of an ornament-shaped Christmas cookie.

Thank you, Yasmeen Ismail, for the words and pictures. And also for the insights from your compassionate heart.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about two sisters, their daily winter activities, and how they are preparing for Santa's arrival. The pages are filled with vibrant illustrations and a few too many words because Greta loves to talk whereas Gracie is quiet. The book had me giggling.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ALL THE RIBBONS!"

[Molly Wilson]

Christmas for Greta and Gracie is about two sisters who are very different. Greta is always talking, and Gracie is very soft-spoken. Christmas is coming, and they're getting ready by buying ribbons, decorating the tree, and doing some ice-skating. However, Greta is always telling Gracie what is best. On Christmas Eve, Gracie hears a weird noise from downstairs, and Greta is asleep. So Gracie goes by herself to see what the noise is and to her surprise it's Santa. The following day Gracie explains everything to Greta, and she for once is speechless.
I liked this book and how it showed that being the youngest isn't bad at all. I liked that it showed a different side of siblings' relationships. I thought it was an adorable and entertaining book.
I would read this to my class. It would be a fun Christmas book, and I could get the students involved. I could have them do different scenes from the book or have them make up their own sibling story. For example, Greta takes the star out of Gracie's hand and says she's too little to climb the ladder. I can have my students act out this situation and see how they would respond, and let them know how they feel about that.

[Jason Pamment · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Yasmeen Ismail's books and especially this one, and my 3 year old loves it too.

At first I was unsure if Greta's overbearing and long dialogue sections would be too much, but they're very fun to read aloud in character. Especially in contrast to Gracie's small quietness :) they're great characters and the ending is perfect!

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always nice to see a new Christmas title. This is the story of two sisters; the chatty one and the quiet one. Greta talks nonstop about Christmas while Gracie listens. But all that changes on Christmas morning when Gracie shares her own exciting news! .

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big sister is always pointing out how much better it is to be the big sister. Until Christmas Eve when Santa visits, and little sister is able to sneak out to see him. Sometimes it's good to be the little sister.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siblings prepare for Christmas together, and the older Greta dominates conversations and dismisses her sister's ideas. Gracie is small and quiet, though, and she listens, so she's the one who meets and helps Santa.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The meek shall inherit the earth.....

Greta is the older and more loquacious sibling who overrides all of Gracie's choices and opinions.

But on Christmas Eve, Gracie's the one who meets and helps Santa.

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a Christmas story or a sibling story? It's both! And it's pretty great.

[Katrina Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated (love the silver foil on the cover!) and gotta love a victory for the quiet kid.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about two sisters who are very different.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun!

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta is a real brat and just awful to younger sister Gracie. Thankfully, Gracie is rewarded for her tolerance and good nature when Santa stops by their house on Christmas Eve.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the personalities and the switch at the end.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story for Christmastime!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was just darling! Greta and Gracie remind me very much of some siblings I know! This would be a great gift, especially if you have a couple of little girls in your life who have this same dynamic.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have ever had a friend that is bossy and monopolizes every conversation, you will relate to Gracie. Greta is Gracie's older sister, and though she means well, she is always taking over and doesn't let Gracie get to do what she wants. Gracie gets a special "prize" on Christmas eve, that makes Greta speechless. Perhaps this book could be used to teach children to give others a chance to choose and to take turns being the "boss".

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this a lot. The art was adorable and the story equally adorable but also a really cool high five to fellow quiet kids out there. I really loved the sisterly relationship and found it to be very accurate (ask my sister, who did not speak until age 3 because I spoke for her, whoops). Just so sweet and cute.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Greta and Gracie are siblings getting ready for Santa. Greta always know what to say and rarely gives Gracie a shot to talk or have an opinion. What happens when Gracie wakes up on Christmas night. Told partly in speech bubbles. Preschool and up for length.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greta is older and bigger and louder. She talks over everything Gracie tries to say. She knows it all, at least she thinks she does. But when they're sleeping, Gracie hears Santa in the other room. It's good to be younger, and smaller, and quieter. Gracie got to spend some quality time with Santa.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For preschool story time, I read the narration, and had a teenager read the older sister speech bubbles, and a younger teen read the younger sister's words.

I loved this story. The author really gets it.

[Danielle]

I adore Yasmeen Ismail's illustrations.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is kind of scatter brained and messy and hard to follow as an adult. I can't imagine what it would be like for a child.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I'm so glad Gracie got to shut her big sister up by the end of the boy. Boy, was she getting annoying.

[Desi Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful story, not only for the contrasts, but for the true to life sibling connection.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book to do voices with. It made the kids laugh. It was fun to watch the smaller, quite kids find out that sometimes not being the loudest gets you something no one else has.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. One of big sister/little sister rivalry. And one where the little sister takes the lead!
Adorable. love the illustrations as well.