Sounds Like Christmas

Georgia and Lincoln are siblings who are tasked by their grandma with decorating the family Christmas tree. Decorating begins normally enough with Lincoln stringing the lights and Georgia hanging the ornaments, but, when “all the regular stuff [is] up on the tree”, Georgia and Lincoln start a game of decorating one-upmanship with hilarious results. Georgia proudly places a singing toy bird on the tree. It tweets loudly. Not to be outdone, Lincoln hangs a sound effects key chain on the tree. It beeps even louder than the toy bird. The determined siblings find increasingly wacky items to hang on the tree until the whole house is filled with “a really incredible, tremendous racket.” What will Santa think of the cacophony when he arrives?

Robert Munsch delivers another delightful picture book that will have children giggling, particularly if they have personal experience with decorating a Christmas tree. Young readers who have brothers and sisters will also relate strongly with Georgia and Lincoln’s sense of sibling competition. Bolded text highlights the different sound each funny ornament makes, culminating in seven glorious noises that beg to be read out loud. Because of its raucous and entertaining language, Sounds Like Christmas lends itself to be shared in a group setting during library or daycare storytimes or amongst family members in the home. Michael Martchenko’s signature illustration style is equally energetic, lending expressive movement and vivid colour to Georgia and Lincoln’s adventure.

Sounds Like Christmas is a welcome addition to the Munsch/Martchenko canon and deserves a spot on all library shelves.