Petunia's Christmas

Petunia #3

by Roger Duvoisin

While taking a walk in the snow, the pet goose Petunia meets Charles, a most charming and handsome gander. Handsome, yes–and hefty, because poor Charles is being fattened for Christmas dinner by the farmer next door. Will the gander of Petunia’s dreams be served up roasted, with applesauce on the side?

Petunia’s determination to save Charles, even if it means posing as Santa Claus, results in “one of the simplest, funniest, and most original of Christmas stories,” wrote the Chicago Tribune when this book was originally published in 1952. A yuletide classic by a Caldecott Medal winner, Petunia’s Christmas is still making children laugh as it shows the true spirit of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Animals, Holiday, Childrens, Fantasy, Classics

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Roger Antoine Duvoisin (August 28, 1900 – June 1980) was a Swiss-born American writer and illustrator, best known for children's picture books. He won the 1948 Caldecott Medal for picture books and in 1968 he was a highly commended runner-up for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's illustrators.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petunia is a much loved pet goose, she falls in love with a gander who lives next door. Sadly he is being fattened up for someone's Christmas dinner. She does everything she can think of to free her friend and eventually raises the money to ask for the farmer to spare his life, but the farmer, who is touched by her actions ends up saying that her friend is free. It would seem as though the neighbours then become vegetarian as all the animals are shown having a happy Christmas and dancing with the husband and wife farmer.

Although this is a lovely story I can imagine many children and adults reading this will be eating animals for their Christmas dinner which presumably will be an idea at odds with the relief you will feel for the characters in the story. Hopefully this story might lead to some children thinking about what's happening here.

Read on Open Library.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! How cute! I think this is my favorite Petunia book. She's not such a silly goose here, but a brave one. And at Christmastime it's easy to suspend disbelief.

Note the prices. We pay less for turkey now, at least if it's factory farmed. Inflation is a constant overall, but certain items go up more than others... good history lesson. ;)

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Roger Duvoisin’s classic children’s book Petunia, I was dying to read more of everyone’s famous good-hearted goose! So, I had just recently picked up another one of Roger Duvoisin’s “Petunia” books called “Petunia’s Christmas” and I enjoyed it just as much as the first book!

The book starts off with Petunia meeting a handsome gander named Charles on a neighboring farm called Windy Farm and she soon discovers that Charles will be eaten by the farmer and his wife on Christmas day. So, Petunia tries to figure out a way to get Charles out of this horrifying predicament.

After reading “Petunia,” I was excited to check out the sequel “Petunia’s Christmas” and I was not disappointed with the results! Roger Duvoisin had done a brilliant job at writing this story as the story is both heartwarming and intense at the same time. I loved the fact that Petunia is a bit more mature in this book than she was in the first book and I loved the fact that Petunia was willing to do anything to save Charles from being eaten on Christmas Day. It really showed how caring and determined Petunia really is and I just felt so much emotion for her character. Roger Duvoisin’s illustrations are simplistic yet colorful to look at as it brings a unique tone to the story. I loved the way that Petunia and Charles are drawn, as they look like simpler versions of gooses and ganders, but there is much detail in their feathers and their wings that it made them look halfway realistic. I also loved the way that the trees were being drawn during the winter scenes as they look realistic and gave the forest scenes more depth.

Parents should know that the scenes where Charles is being threatened of being eaten by the farmer and his wife might scare smaller children. Even though these scenes are not too graphic in detail and the story concentrates more on Petunia’s attempts to help Charles, parents might want to read over this book first to see if their children can handle this sensitive subject.

Overall, “Petunia’s Christmas” is a fantastic story about the importance of love and knowing the true meaning of Christmas that many children will enjoy for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the subject of Charles possibly being eaten on Christmas Day might scare smaller children.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this forgotten Christmas classic to 2nd and 3rd graders over the past two weeks, and kids and teachers have been loving this goosey love story. Since my mother used to read it to me when I was little, I feel like reading this book aloud makes Christmas real. A terrific Christmas read aloud for the 2nd/3rd grade set, though twice I had to stop and explain "gayest" in the context used in the book means festive and happy (curse older siblings). Duvoisin's illustrations and story are a perfect blend of Christmas love and silliness.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of devotion between two geese and the lengths that little Petunia will go to free her man (I mean, gander.) Our girls thought it was a nice story, and it's perfect for Christmastime.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: We loved this book so much we made Mommy and Daddy read it twice.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a pet goose, Petunia, meets Charles? He's a captive goose who just might be served up soon for Christmas dinner.

Right from the start, the tone is light -- supplemented by simple pictures with clean lines and soothingly harmonious colors. (Both are from the artistry of Roger Duvoisin.)

As Charles says, early on, "Alas, I fear I'll be roasted and served with apple sauce. Aren't you being fattened too?"

Fast-forwarding through much plot... Oh, the ending is lovely. When the farmer's wife wiped her eyes with a corner of her bright yellow (and spotless) apron, I would have been tempted to do the same. Except that I don't own a single ruffly, full-sized apron.

Fabulously FIVE STARS is this marvelous picture book.

[Anna Docker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking for a second hand hardback edition of this book for years. They are ridiculously expensive so in the end I caved in and bought a paperback edition printed 1975. The book is tiny, I need to win lotto as I'd love a bigger copy. Love the storyline and the illustrations by Roger Duvoisin are amongst my all time favourites. That scene where Petunia is covered in Christmas wreaths of greenery tied up with red ribbon is stunning. Ditto the cut out decorations she makes and sells. The end illustration of the beautiful orange cows and farmers dancing together is a symphony of colour. Probably in my top 5 best Childhood book reads.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to pick up one of these Petunia books for awhile now, but the library closures due to COVID have prevented me from going inside. I finally requested one, and it came.
This book is cute, I thought Petunia was endearing. The illustrations were simple and added to the story. Petunia has a good imagination.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

She saves a duck, I mean a goose, and Charles is a bad hider in a haystack, but a haystack is good place to hide, but his head was sticking out so that's why it wasn't a very good hiding place.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petunia Goose, a pet of Mr. Pumpkin meets Charles a gander at Windy Farm who is being fattened up for Christmas dinner. Petunia is smitten by Charles and does everything she can to rescue him from becoming someone's Christmas meal.

[Kristin Eoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was a child! I really admired Petunia for how brave, persistent, devoted and clever she was in raising enough money making Christmas wreaths to buy the freedom of her boyfriend Charles.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I most especially loved the illustration.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lands…..I loved this story. I enjoy Petunia on a normal day but Petunia falls in love and gives us belly laughs along the way in this book. A winner in our home.

[Ann Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petunia, a pet goose, is walking in the snow when she meets Charles, a handsome gander. Charles is especially handsome as he is being fattened for Christmas dinner by the farmer next door. How can Petunia save her dream of being with Charles? Dressing as Santa Claus, Petunia creates unique items to sell. Will her scheme work? This book, released in 1952, continues to be a holiday classic. The original illustrations and simply hilarious and original plot remind us of its Caldecott Medal status. Hooray for the little guy - or goose - in this case. What a Christmas it will be for Petunia!

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Petunia meets Charles, a handsome gander at a neighboring farm, she determines to set him free so they can be together--and so Charles won't be someone's Christmas dinner!

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the original Petunia story, where the silly goose learns to read, but I did get a kick out of her dragon disguise.

[Beck]

I skimmed it more than I read it, but it seems like one of those classic heartwarming children's stories of old.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

And again, adore this author. This one was a delight. Wish I owned it.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Petunia rescues Charles the gander from becoming Christmas dinner.

themes: animals, Christmas, geese

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

love Duvoisin's illustrations.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missed this one as a classic. Nothing better than goose love. Could consider buying.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, creative Petunia saves her man! So grateful to have inherited this book. We read it as a family every Christmas season.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an intriguing premise -- Petunia is kept as a pet, but meets a gander from a neighboring farm who is being raised as a meat goose -- with soft, calming pencil illustrations throughout.

[Little Champs]

H 83

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
Petunia rescues her future husband from becoming a xmas goose