Christmas at the Toy Museum

by David Lucas

It's Christmas Eve at the Toy Museum--and when the lights go out, the magic begins!

One very special Christmas Eve, Bunting and the rest of the toys in the museum are gathered around the tree -- but what's this? There are no presents! What can they do? The normally reserved Bunting has a wonderful idea. Why don't the toys give themselves to one another as gifts? The toys learn about the true gift of giving in this gentle and affectionate picture book from one of Britain's brightest talents.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Christian, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 25, 2012

About the author

David Lucas has written and illustrated several books for children and was named a Booktrust Best New Illustrator. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a toy museum closes for Christmas the toys realise they have nothing to give each other, they wrap each other up and on Christmas morning they each unwrap each other and the last toy that has no-one to open is given a wish by an angel, he wishes Christmas day should last forever

A nice idea but this was very short and I didn't like the illustration style very much.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh shut up. I can like a Christmas book if I want to. In fact, just the other day I told the story of my friend's kitten which she adopted after I had rescued it from up a tree at midnight on Christmas Eve, and we were told, "If you write that story as a picture book, you would make A MILLION DOLLARS."

SO FINE. This one has toys and no presents and a big honkin tree and an angel - a REAL angel, no less - and a whoooole lot of red and green, and I like it. Except for the end. The ending is lame.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

One very special Christmas Eve Bunting and the rest of the toys in the museum are gathered around the tree, but what's this? There are no presents! What can they do? The normally reserved Bunting has a wonderful idea. Why don't the toys give themselves to each other as gifts?

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christmas story about giving and receiving without expectations. Sweet illustrations. And of course, a happy ending.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunting, a cat toy who lives with the other toys in a toy museum, decides that each of the toys will wrap one another up so that they all have a present to unwrap on Christmas day. But after they do so, Bunting is still without a present until an angel gives him a wish. This picture book celebrates in nostalgic fashion the true meaning of Christmas. My heart was touched by the toys' excitement about being gifts for one another. The ink and watercolor illustrations consist of smiling toys and festive wrapping paper. I'm not sure why Bunting wants Christmas to last forever, but maybe he simply hopes that the joy and generosity associated with the day will continue on. This is a good holiday readaloud.

[Russell Mark Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had a lot of potential, but the ending was not only abrupt, but a lie as well. The "angel," gives the toy cat a wish and he wishes Christmas could last for forever. "And it did." Well, it didn't. And if it did, then the problem of there not being a tidy way for all the toys to wrap and unwrap themselves means that this disappointment will continue on ad infinitum. Why didn't he just wish that they could be opened up by deserving and grateful children?

I liked the art, though.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Christmas Eve, and the toys at the toy museum have gathered around the Christmas tree. There are no gifts for anyone, so the toys decide to wrap themselves and give themselves as gifts for each other. But the angel can see that when it is time to open each other, poor Bunting will not have a gift to open. Perhaps the angel can create a Christmas miracle to honor the unselfish actions of these toys.

The artwork was a bit too bright and busy for my taste, but it's a sweet reminder to think of others.

[Joella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The toys at the toy museum are all alone on Christmas Eve and wonder where all the presents are. So, they decide to give themselves to each other. Only, the last toy to be opened doesn't have a gift to open...until a little Christmas magic happens.

Fun story, but with so many Christmas books out there, this is just another nice addition. Not a must-have.

[Bethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book features a new setting for a holiday story, the toy museum, no other new ground is covered. The endpapers identify the toys but there is no indication of why they are included in the museum. Nice story, bright colors, clear illustrations, but nothing to distinguish it from the existing multitude of Christmas stories.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because they give presents, but not new presents, and they're not at the tree when they got there. They made lots of present wrapping to wrap theirselves in and they put themselves in present boxes, or different people put theirselves in boxes!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The toys at the museum don't see any presents under the tree on Christmas Eve. They wrap themselves and wait for Christmas morning to unwrap each other. A sweet story that went over well for both toddler and pre-k storytime. Would use again.

[Shelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of the first Christmas told through the point of view of toys. I don't see children getting really excited about the story or the illustrations though.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for all kids! It tells a fable about the true spirit of giving. It has intricate pictures and a good story.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute but I didn’t love the ending and the plot didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The illustrations were enjoyable but not a wow factor.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story line of this book by David Lucas is just too simple. Sure there was a small twist at the end but taken as a whole the story was just lacking. The illustrations are bright and colorful but they share the same problem and therefore could not support the story.

[Jenny Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My granddaughter liked the way the toys wanted to give themselves to each other as presents.