Review Detail

CHRISTMAS AHOY! is a fun and festive story about a parade of boats decked out for the holiday. The story counts up from one to ten along the way with each boat/grouping presenting a number. The parade ends with Santa, of course, and his nine reindeer on deck waving, but he is now led by 10 flying fish!

What I loved: This is a fun nautical take on Christmas parades. The story takes place at night so that the lights really shine, and it gives it a very festive feel through the different types of boats all decked out. There are plenty of boat terms and names with backmatter that gives additional context for the types of boats to add to the educational value. With rhyming text and numbers, this is a book that will work well for toddlers and preschoolers as well as older children looking for a simple, festive read.

The font is clear throughout with a good size that makes this easy to read aloud even in lowlight conditions like bedtime. The rhyming text and darker scenes also make this a great holiday season nighttime read. The boats provide the color and magic captured in this non-religious Christmas celebration.

Final verdict: CHRISTMAS AHOY! is a delightfully nautical take on holiday celebration that will work well for toddlers and preschoolers.