The Christmasaurus: The bestselling magical Christmas adventure: 2 (The Christmasaurus, 2)

Incredible for so many reasons!
10/10When I heard that my favourite musician from my favourite band, Tom Fletcher from McFly, was writing his first novel I was so excited. When I found out it was a Christmas novel I was super excited. When it was revealed that the main character would be a wheelchair user, I was over the moon and desperate to read it! I grabbed a copy as soon as it was released and I was not disappointed!William Trundle is a 10-year-old wheelchair user who is obsessed with dinosaurs. He lives happily with his dad Bob, until one day Brenda Payne, the meanest girl in the whole school (possibly the world!) joins his class and turns William’s life upside down. For the first time ever, William feels very different from his friends and he becomes miserable. Little does he know that far away in the North Pole is a lonely dinosaur called the Christmasaurus who also feels very different. On Christmas Eve, the two cross paths in the most unexpected way, leading them to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and build a friendship that will change them both forever.The Christmasaurus is a joy to read. Tom talks to the reader directly, and uses lots of fun description and silly Roald Dahl inspired language like ‘kickerbashed and knockerboshed.’ In fact, Santa’s elves singing in rhyme reminded me of the Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! There are loads of laugh-out-loud moments to amuse small kids and big kids alike. The enchanting illustrations and brilliant writing make it so easy to get lost in the story. I felt like I was actually eating Cosmos Converting Candy Canes and drinking North Star-bucks in the North Pole Snow Ranch!Not only is The Christmasaurus well-written, it also captures what it’s like to be a wheelchair user perfectly. William is an ordinary boy doing normal stuff like going to school and playing with friends. On the other hand, he has experiences unique to being a wheelchair user, like needing help to pick up a dropped pencil or running over people’s feet on a semi-regular basis! I could relate to him so much; he reminded me of me when I was at school!I was most impressed by how the book addresses the way that wheelchair users can be treated negatively because of their disability, and the feelings this can evoke like sadness, loneliness and guilt. This is so important, because there aren’t many wheelchair users in books, TV and films, so if you don’t have any other friends who are wheelchair users, it can seem like you are the only person to feel this way. The Christmasaurus reminds wheelchair users that they are not alone and emphasises that their lives and stories are just as important as those of non-disabled people.As well as being full of fun and magic, The Christmasaurus is action-packed. I was thrilled to see so much danger and suspense throughout the book. These moments kept me hooked, but they also show that wheelchair users can be action heroes too. I wish I could be as clever and as daring as William in scary situations; he is amazing!One thing I would like to see in Tom’s future novels (of which I hope there will be many) is more women and girl main characters. There is only one in The Christmasaurus and although girls will definitely still enjoy this book, they deserve stories with more of their own heroes and role models too!Overall, The Christmasaurus is an outstanding novel with a key message about the importance of friendship and family, celebrating difference and believing in yourself. It is an incredible step forward in the representation of wheelchair users in children’s books, educating a new generation about disability. I hope that many more authors will follow Tom’s lead.The Christmasaurus is a wonderfully warm festive treat for readers young and not so young. Whoever you are, I highly recommend that you ask Santa to pop a copy in your stocking this Christmas Eve!

A magical story about hopes, dreams and friendship.
Dinosaur-loving William Trundle is having a tough time at school so he writes to Santa. A magical story about hopes, dreams and friendship that kept us entertained throughout and left us smiling. I read this with Daniel (8) and Joshua (6) as our Christmas bedtime story, after my Year 5’s recommended it. It’s easy to read, often using super-long sentences and lots of description, so would be suited to lower key stage 2. However, even Joshua was enthralled by the plot and enjoyed guessing what was going to happen next, as well as retelling the funny parts of the story to anyone who would listen. I loved that the main character uses a wheelchair and that this is addressed throughout, points for diversity. Five stars from both myself and the boys.

Great book but be warned!!
I actually accidentally read the third book in the series to my kids first… they loved it.So I’ve gone back to the first book (this one) which I’m reading to my nearly 8 year old and 4 year old at bedtime.Though they are really enjoying it, I had to skip most of chapter 10 because it questions the reality and belief in Santa. Both my kids still belief in Santa and this chapter may (very likely) have planted seeds of him not existing. Whilst they are naive and loving life, I want to make the most of their innocence for as long as possible….

Great book
My daughter has just turned 9 and we are both enjoying reading this book. Half way through and each chapter has been exciting.

I bought this book a few years ago for my youngest son. We pull it out every November and read a chapter together each night. It’s a wonderful book that highlights children with disability and hardship in the kindest and most loving way. The rhyming songs by the elves are my favorite part to read. They are slightly difficult, but oh so fun! Looking forward to reading again this year.

An A.I. generated (if it wasn’t then shame on the author) by-the-numbers plot featuring a kid in a wheelchair, written by someone who clearly thought they might cash in on the disbled kid thing, but then puts him in “lighthearted comedy” situation in which he’s basically bullied (hilarious) – at one point a Guiness Book of records official turns up after he has cream poured over him to declare him the biggest bowl of cereal ever – not a developed part of the story, just a single line added to make the humiliation “funny”.Try this choice paragraph for size:”Their teacher Mr Dribblepot, had just popped out to the loo, and as Brenda never missed an opportunity to make William’s life feel miserable, as soon as the door clicked shut, a shiny black stapler flew across the classroom, straight at william’s head! William tried to block it with his exercise book, but the force of the throw was so strong that the book smacked hium straight in the face and the stapler stapled it to his forehead!”A delightfully whimsical illustration punctuates this moment of comedy genius.The kid called William get’s called “Willy” and “Willy-poos” and “wheely William” to much hilarity, which caused my own disabled son William quite a bit of discomfort, as he’s never been bullied over his name – thanks, “socially aware” book for essentually bullying my son…A little sample of the imaginative lengths the author goes to, to make disabled kids feel welcome – instead of “…they would sing hurtful songs at him…”, no, the author decides to invent an entire 3- verse bullying song for our enjoyment – here’s the third couplet for the edification of no-one, but hopefully your information:Wheely William sitting in a chair,Wheely William rolls everywhere!He can’t do jumps!He can’t even stand!To go upstairsHe uses a ramp!Oh, and that’s just a glimpse at the quality of the poetry that happens every other page. The Elves are consumate song-writers who only speak in “rhyme”:”Santa come quick!Santa! Come help!This egg is too heavyFor the North Pole elves!”Right. Meanwhile, Rohald Dahl’s and Enid Blyton’s classics have to be sanitised for a modern audience, but this drivel? No, this is fine because it features a boy in a wheelchair. Give me a break.

Consegna nei tempi. Storia molto carina e tenera che racconta di un bambino con bisogni speciali. Ottimo come regalo di natale per bambini.