Ashleigh Barton (text) and Martina Heiduczek (illustrator), What Do You Do to Celebrate?, HarperCollins Publishers, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780733341595
What Do You Do to Celebrate? showcases celebrations of different traditions from around the globe at the end and beginning of a year. These celebrations include Christmas, Hannukah, Chinese Lunar New Year, St Basil’s Day and others. The picture book is a series of colourful double page spreads, highlighting diverse families in varied locations. Some of the locations are evident, through illustrations such as the Old City of Jerusalem.
However, there is no hint of why Yonatan in the Old City lights a candle every night for eight days and what this tradition means. Many of the celebrations do not have notable identifiers of the country and/or the meaning of the events. The postscript provides information of the thirteen celebrations, where they take place and some facts. It would have been valuable to have explained the festivals a little more within the text and illustrations as the story progresses.
There is a lot of energy in the text and illustrations. A favourite image is Arlene dancing in her red and blue feathers for the Junkanoo parade, At the end of the book we discover Arlene is dancing in the Bahamas on Boxing Day.
What Do You Do to Celebrate? is a book of celebrating tradition and joy:-
In every corner of the globe, as years begin and end,
There are many ways to celebrate with family and friends.
Traditions that help us spread the cheer and joy to everyone.
Turn the page and take a look. Come on – let’s join the fun …
It is an enjoyable picture book to share at the end or start of a year.
Recommended for ages 4+ years.
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
