Christmas City: A Look Again Book

by Michael Garland

On Christmas Eve, Tommy receives an invitation from his aunt Jeanne. Before long, he’s on his way to a bustling city where it’s Christmas every day of the year! Now Tommy has to follow his aunt’s rhyming notes through the streets and squares of Christmas City to uncover pictures, puzzles, and clues that lead to a surprise ending! Children will delight in searching for more than 200 hidden items, including candy canes, snowmen, and reindeer, as well as fourteen camouflaged letters that spell a holiday message when unscrambled.

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

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2002

About the author

Author and illustrator Michael Garland was born in Manhattan in 1952. He studied art at Pratt Institute and soon after graduating, he sold his first illustration to True Confessions magazine. He has written or illustrated over 40 books.

Reviews

[Calista]

This was fun. Lots of brilliant bright colors with plenty to look at and keep the attention. The page is stuffed full of Christmas cheer. The book is a mystery, a clue is given leading to another clue, all in rhyme. This is also a seek and find, so there are a list of things for the reader to find on each page, all the items from the 12 days of Christmas and then Christmas items like candy canes and angels, etc.

There is plenty to keep the interest of the reader in this. Tommy is whisked into a mystery one night when a cab is at his door and he finds a note. He is taken to Christmas town and these notes are amazing how they find him. He is led from one puzzle to another puzzle.

You could work with a younger reader, but this is going to be more fun for someone older like 6 or 8 or so. It would be fun to do together with the kids.

I read this on Open Library, which is not as easy to see as it would be if you have a physical copy.

[Tam]

Myy 9-year-old enjoyed this book about a boy who goes on a scavenger hunt looking for his aunt. There are hidden items in the pictures. The very beginning of the book tells you the book is a puzzle with hidden letters to collect and unscramble. It also said to find the things listed in "The Twelve Days of Christmas", angels, cherubs, candy canes, snowmen, elves, and reindeer. At the end of the book there's a list of the hidden items.

[Andrea]

This book is a clever story with notes that take the main character all over Christmas City. There are many objects to seek and find--words, objects, letters to unscramble, and all the things from the 12 Days of Christmas song.

[Jess]

November 2016 - Ben chose this one and enjoyed all the Christmas stuff crammed into every page. He's not quite old enough to piece together the clues, but he enjoyed the story at face value. Not quite my kind of illustrations, but fun.

[Dayna]

Much to find hidden in each page.

[Kim]

This was a fun book with seek and find.

[Karen]

Cute. Lots of "hidden" images to find. Will keep kid and adults busy!

[Meredith]

Would be a fun read together with a mid elementary-age kid. I would advise making a copy of the last page before starting to make the hunting a little easier.

[Fahula]

Kids love looking for all of the holiday items - so many fun categories: The 12 Days of Christmas, reindeer names, and Merry Christmas wishes in various languages were my students’ favourites. They also liked trying to find the letters to spell the special message.

[Kathryn]

For sheer enjoyment factor more of a three star for me, but I can really appreciate the effort and creativity and both my kids liked it a lot. Good choice for those who like puzzles,hidden picture and “where’s Waldo” types — younger kids will need some help, though.

[Mary]

A very fun "I spy" kind of book.

[Shala Abbott]

This was an exciting book. It is a christmas fantasy book that I know that all ages will love. The pictures are fantastic. This was one of my favorite reads for christmas. It is magical!

[Jennifer]

this is a great seek and fin book!