Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Eloise at Christmastime
Illustrator: Hilary Knight
Picture Book Series
For ages 5 and up
Simon and Schuster, 1999 ISBN: 978-0689830396
It is Christmas Eve at the Plaza Hotel and Eloise is thoroughly and completely involved in her preparations for the big day. There is a tree to be decorated, presents to sort out, presents to wrap and deliver, closets to peak into, and lots of delicious things to eat and drink. Of course she also has to make sure that everyone, most certainly everyone, in the Hotel knows that she "ELOISE" is out and about. To do this our favorite six-year-old writes "Merry Christmas" on the walls, sings carols to all, and she hangs "tassels on all the thermostats" - among other things.
At last Nanny carries Eloise off to bed and Eloise drifts off into a delicious Christmas dream full of Santas, reindeer and all those other wonderful symbols of the season.
Eloise is up very early on Christmas morning - just as we would expect - and it is time to unwrap presents and share the joy of giving with dear, much loved Nanny.
Written in a simple rhyme which "drinkles and sklinkles" across the pages, this wonderful visit with Eloise is full of the excitement, the secrets, and the happiness that comes with the Christmas season when you are a little six-year-old girl. Eloise may be a nuisance at times, but we, as well as all the people she's in contact with at the Plaza, can see that Eloise has a big and generous heart.
