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Merry Un-Christmas: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting
The first Un–Christmas classic from the bestselling team of How Murray Saved Christmas. When Noelle wakes up every morning, she must put her new pony in the backyard with all of her other ponies and her new bike in the garage with all of her other bikes. It is another normal day in Christmas City, where every day is Christmas except for one–the much anticipated but highly uncelebrated Un–Christmas Day. Perfect for every child who wishes for more, more, and more, the bestselling collaboration of Mike Reiss and David Catrow give a new meaning to the phrase "a joyous holiday." Ages 3 – 7
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 23, 2017
HAHAHA. This was rich. OH, the art is wonderful too. Everyone has such big eyes to show their sadness more. Sort o Tim Burton-like. Hyper-colorful.
What would the world look like if it was Christmas every day? I love the part where she puts the pony in the yard with all her other ponies. I lost it. My kids couldn't understand why this girl was so sad. They thought it would be great to have Christmas everyday. They laughed at the story too.
I thought it was good to remember who good the rest of life is too. So thank goodness Christmas comes but once a year. This book was a joy.
What would the world look like if it was Christmas every day? I love the part where she puts the pony in the yard with all her other ponies. I lost it. My kids couldn't understand why this girl was so sad. They thought it would be great to have Christmas everyday. They laughed at the story too.
I thought it was good to remember who good the rest of life is too. So thank goodness Christmas comes but once a year. This book was a joy.
May 6, 2008
Reviewed by Me for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com
For Noelle, there's one day a year that she looks forward to more than any other. No, it's not Christmas, but Un-Christmas!
For Noelle and her family, who live in Christmas City, Texmas, Un-Christmas is the one and only day when things are as close to normal as they can get. Noelle can go to school (since school is closed on Christmas), the mailman can finally deliver the mail (since the post office is closed on Christmas), and she can watch regular shows on television (since Christmas is filled with holiday specials and the Grinch and Scrooge). For the family that celebrates Christmas 364 days a year, Un-Christmas is a wonderful day!
My kids thought, at first, that having Christmas every day of the year except one sounded like a wonderful idea. Until they realized that, like Noelle, they would soon have so many presents they wouldn't want to play with any of them. And that having a large Christmas dinner--the SAME Christmas dinner--every single day would start to get boring. And that the feeling of excitement and anticipation that comes on Christmas Day would, after celebrating it so many times, start to fade.
No, they decided, Noelle is right to be so happy to see Un-Christmas come. And having Christmas once a year really is enough!
For Noelle, there's one day a year that she looks forward to more than any other. No, it's not Christmas, but Un-Christmas!
For Noelle and her family, who live in Christmas City, Texmas, Un-Christmas is the one and only day when things are as close to normal as they can get. Noelle can go to school (since school is closed on Christmas), the mailman can finally deliver the mail (since the post office is closed on Christmas), and she can watch regular shows on television (since Christmas is filled with holiday specials and the Grinch and Scrooge). For the family that celebrates Christmas 364 days a year, Un-Christmas is a wonderful day!
My kids thought, at first, that having Christmas every day of the year except one sounded like a wonderful idea. Until they realized that, like Noelle, they would soon have so many presents they wouldn't want to play with any of them. And that having a large Christmas dinner--the SAME Christmas dinner--every single day would start to get boring. And that the feeling of excitement and anticipation that comes on Christmas Day would, after celebrating it so many times, start to fade.
No, they decided, Noelle is right to be so happy to see Un-Christmas come. And having Christmas once a year really is enough!
December 14, 2011
This gives a good look at what I think we've all wished for at one point or another in life - that every day was Christmas. Little Noelle has all the skates, games, and ponies she could ever want. 364 days out of the year are Christmas, with the same activities, the same food, the same everything... and that gets old for Noelle.
Noelle is so excited when un-Christmas Day rolls around and she takes advantage of the day in all it's glory. I liked giving Julia a look at what another child may wish for, maybe it's the same thing she'd like to get rid of.
Update 12/10/11 - We just read this again a few days ago and while I gave this three stars last year I changed it to four now. (Isn't it strange how that happens?)
I don't know what changed, maybe it's that Julia is a year older and better able to really put the story in perspective. I'd recommend this though, especially for someone wanting to show their kid what having everything really might feel like.
Noelle is so excited when un-Christmas Day rolls around and she takes advantage of the day in all it's glory. I liked giving Julia a look at what another child may wish for, maybe it's the same thing she'd like to get rid of.
Update 12/10/11 - We just read this again a few days ago and while I gave this three stars last year I changed it to four now. (Isn't it strange how that happens?)
I don't know what changed, maybe it's that Julia is a year older and better able to really put the story in perspective. I'd recommend this though, especially for someone wanting to show their kid what having everything really might feel like.
July 30, 2011
I enjoyed this book. The premise was funny and I definitely think children will enjoy seeing Christmas from a different perspective. The illustrations were comical and endearing. The ending was my favorite part. I'd recommend this book.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...
December 11, 2011
This book was actually very original and I was surprised by how much I was laughing and smirking. At first I thought Noelle was just a spoiled little brat, but the author reassured me that this was not true since Christmas happens 364 days a year. I can understand why she got so bored with Christmas presents and Christmas dinner.
This story is great for an unconventional holiday laugh. =)
This story is great for an unconventional holiday laugh. =)
December 19, 2010
I am in love with this book. The story and illustrations are absolutely wonderful. <3
August 10, 2017
Very funny.
December 23, 2015
I'm sure that there are many children who have wistfully sighed and wished that Christmas could be every day. Well, this book shows exactly what would happen were that to come true. The narrative is entertaining and the illustrations are terrific.
We discovered the collaboration between Mike Reiss and David Catrow with the story How Murray Saved Christmas and have been looking for more at our local library since then.
December 2015 update: We revisited this story as we sought to introduce my two-year-old niece to the wonders of Mr. Catrow's creative characters. We realized that she wasn't ready for this book yet, but we read it ourselves after she left.
We discovered the collaboration between Mike Reiss and David Catrow with the story How Murray Saved Christmas and have been looking for more at our local library since then.
December 2015 update: We revisited this story as we sought to introduce my two-year-old niece to the wonders of Mr. Catrow's creative characters. We realized that she wasn't ready for this book yet, but we read it ourselves after she left.
February 7, 2013
This book was extremely cute. It discussed what its like to have Christmas alllll the time. The pictures were very vibrant and colorful, and the story line was different than most because how often do people get to have Christmas all the time. It was actually funny to see how the the character was actually excited to not have Christmas for one day. I like how things changed up like going to school, and how people do the mail for the day, it was completely different from the norm. This is a great book for younger students however probably needed for ages 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.I do thin this book is wordier than most of the books I have read but for the kids that love to read they will find this book so much fun and maybe even a little bit of a challenge... in a good way.
December 24, 2015
This book is laugh-out-loud funny because it's absolutely absurd. Imagine a world where it's Christmas 364 days every year, and the one average day in the year is celebrated. So funny and strange! (It's also great for discussions with young kids who wish they could be spoiled with Christmas gifts and festivities every day.) The illustrations by David Catrow are strange and silly and absolutely perfect. The book jacket for this little gem says that it's for ages 3-7, but my teen-age and adult kids still love it. So do I!
December 15, 2009
Such a fun read about a town that celebrates Christmas every day of the year except one day. One day a year the mail man comes, kids go to school, there are TV dinners and other "ordinary day" type activities. Especially fun to read with my 4 year old who thinks it would be great if Christmas was EVERY day!
Side Note: we thought the little girl had a striking resemblance to our favorite little gal in Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon.
Side Note: we thought the little girl had a striking resemblance to our favorite little gal in Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon.
December 9, 2013
Cute book on how every day is Christmas except one. The magic of Christmas is lost when it's celebrated every day and Noelle loves the one day of the year there is no Christmas the best. Noelle gets to go to school and watch T.V. programs un-Christmas related. The bad thing about the day is when all the bills show up for her father because the mailman only works one day a year. Silly Fun and Trevor enjoyed the story.
November 11, 2007
In Christmas city, it's Christmas EVERY day. Santa comes every day. They eat Christmas Dinner EVERY night. The same music plays EVERY day... except for one day a year when it ISN'T Christmas! Noelle and the other kids get to go to school, un-decorate and eat TV dinners in front of the TV. One of my favorite Christmas books!
September 16, 2008
My son brought this home from his school library and it is hilarious! It's about a girl who lives in Christmas town and it's Christmas 364 days of the year. Every day she gets bikes and ponies and they eat 6 course dinners. So Un-christmas is her favorite day of the year when she can go to school and eat TV dinners. Great jumping off point for a discussion about gratefulness.
December 11, 2011
In this story it is Christmas 364 days of the year, which makes it a rather typical and boring day. Fortunately for Noelle, on the 16th of August it is Un-Christmas Day. On Un-Christmas Day she gets to go to school and receive mail from the wonderful mail carrier. It is de-lightful.
For those familiar with the Accelerated Reader Program, this is a 3.7 level book.
For those familiar with the Accelerated Reader Program, this is a 3.7 level book.
September 15, 2012
I thought this was the cutest little book. The pictures are awesome and the story is too. I like this book because it takes the way we look at Christmas and flips it. Some of the opposites in the book I didn’t think of, like the mail running and going to school, were neat. I think this would be a good book to use for opposites as well as different perspectives. This is a very cute book.
December 2, 2012
An original take on the Christmas story. My 4 year old needed some help understanding the plot. David Catrow's unique illustrations are always fun, in fact we've been going through a pile of his books, I'm so enamored with them.
August 24, 2008
They ask for it all the time, in fact, or they did until I got fed up and hid it...!
It is a bit long, though, and at the end of the description of how wonderful un-Christmas is I no longer feel amused but more sad for Noelle.
But the nieces find it funny still, and that's what matters.
It is a bit long, though, and at the end of the description of how wonderful un-Christmas is I no longer feel amused but more sad for Noelle.
But the nieces find it funny still, and that's what matters.
January 5, 2009
Cute story about Christmas town - where every day of the year is Christmas except one day. On the one day people celebrate living a regular life. Makes me think a little more about what emphasis I am placing on Christmas - commercial or spiritual?
May 15, 2009
Christmas City has only one day a year that they do not celebrate Christmas. They go to school, take down the tree and ornaments and the postman only comes once a year. 364 days of Christmas, and only one day to relax.
November 4, 2009
This was a cool book about a city having Christmas 364 days a year and everyone is so happy when the on un-Christmas day is coming.
I would definitely use this in my classroom around Christmas times, and I think it would work for all ages.
I would definitely use this in my classroom around Christmas times, and I think it would work for all ages.
December 15, 2013
So fun to read with your kids who wish it was Christmas every day of the year! And I love Catrow's illustrations! I love the things the family does to celebrate "un-christmas," it's a good reminder of how wonderful the "ordinary" can be :)
December 19, 2014
This is a fun story that looks at a town where it is Christmas 364 days a year and there is only one day when it isn't Christmas and if you would ever get tired of all the craziness of Christmas.
Check this one out for sure.
www.lockheed40books.com
Check this one out for sure.
www.lockheed40books.com
December 22, 2016
This is a delightful story time book about a girl who lives in a town where it is Christmas every single day. Every single day she gets a pony and a bicycle. Her favorite day of the year is Un-Christmas Day where she gets to eat TV dinners and go to school.
August 21, 2017
Intresting story about living in a town where it is Christmas EVERY day and it repeats itself over and over but there is one day that is UNChristmas and that one day the mailman runs, and there is SCHOOL!!!! All the children love going to school that one day. A creative cute storybook.
February 22, 2008
Hilarious! What a clever book for kids. It just turns the whole kids' Christmas experience on its ear. It still makes me laugh.
August 17, 2012
I read it to my younger son and he really liked it.
March 15, 2017
Very Cute! Read this standing in the library today.
May 9, 2020
Read during a holiday-themed preschool story time on 12/14/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
picture-books-read
December 18, 2012A funny concept that my kids loved. See my full review here: http://sunlitpages.blogspot.com/2012/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews