Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas; Sibéal Pounder

Blanche despises Christmas. Her parents died long before her memories were properly formed and she has seen more orphanages than she’d care to mention, and with no-one to share Christmas with there really isn’t much to be cheerful about. There is little to enjoy from under the bridge she calls home and she cannot wait for the dreaded day to pass - counting down the seconds until it will be over for another year.

But one Christmas Eve would change everything when a mysterious old woman gives Blanche a red bauble and uttered the words, “Never underestimate the gifts you are given.” The bauble is alive with magic and as Blanche stares into it she is met with the most remarkable of sights…a winter wonderland with tiny houses, colourful icicles and a giant dancing Christmas tree. The bauble is the start of a magical adventure and is the beginning of Blanche's journey to inventing the real Christmas…

Ooh, this is such a warm-hearted and big Christmas hug of a book that is guaranteed to get you feeling all Christmassy. Starring two fabulous girls, the wonderfully written and thoroughly enjoyable adventure tells ‘the real story of how Christmas was invented’ and all of the traditions that go along with it. 

Like a good selection box this is full of sweeties and Blanche finds some utter delights as she travels form the cold and desolate streets of London to the stately homes on Stratton Street and all the way to the North Pole and Carolburg. Rinki - the founder of the mince-pie-picnic, Eggnog the Christmas tree, a lot of magical and rather confusing elves all called Carol, and a boy called Santa are all getting an invitation to my Christmas dinner party. Of course, no Christmas would be complete without a vile villain who is determined to bring a stop to all the Christmas merriment and magic…watch out for the dastardly Mr. Krampus (boo!).

Girl power and can-do-attitude flow as freely as the mince pies as the kind-hearted and spirited Blanche, along with new friends, sets about making Christmas a day for all and ensuring every child around the world has a present to wake up to. Feisty, funny and determined to get what she wants, even if the world doesn’t think she should have it, Blanche is a great role model and is surely number one on Santa's nice list.

Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas is a cracker and is a great twist on the traditional origins of Santa Claus. It comes with Christmas spirit by the bucketload, a lot of mince pies and is everything a Christmas book should be…fabulous, festive and fun.

Recommended for 7+.