Welcome to our December’s Edition of Clara’s Corner!

This month Clara will be reviewing three books, ‘Santerella’, ‘ The Littlest Christmas Tree’ & ‘Dig Dig Dinosaur’

This month we’re giving you 20% off each title Clara has reviewed!

Santarella

This is my favourite publication from Little Tiger this year! I do love a contemporary twist
on a fairy tale, and Santarella does not disappoint.
Santarella is a festive spin on the traditional tale of Cinderella. With a similar opening,
Cinderella left at home tending to chores while everyone else is off having fun, the story
soon goes in a different direction when Santa Claus comes crashing down the chimney.
Cinderella agrees to help a wounded Santa and with that, takes on a new role, Santarella!
A playful but empowering little read, with a nod to the importance of independence,
determination and knowing your worth. A lovely read for infants to 2nd class. (Though it
would also be a wonderful entry point into richer discussions on stereotypes and strong
female leaders in the senior classes!)

Things to try at school:
● Compare and contrast: Use a venn diagram to record the similarities and
differences between this version of Cinderella and the traditional version.
● Return to the text. Ignore the text and simply follow the text within the
illustrations. What words are nestled across the pages? What do you notice about
the stepsisters?
● Explore the author: Learn about Suzy Senior; does she have any other publications
for children?
● Classroom discussion: Why do you think Santarella chose not to go to the ball?
● Geography: Using an atlas, world map or globe, track Santa and Santarella’s
journey.
● Creative writing: Choose another fairytale and decide on an alternative ending for
the main character.
● Arts & crafts: Santa said that Santarella needed a special hat. Using fabrics and

fibre, design a special Santarella hat.

Things to try at home:
● Dinnertime discussion: What are your favourite fairytales or traditional tales?
● Dinnertime discussion: Cinderella had to do lots of chores. Which is your least
favourite chore to complete?
● Make & do: There are lots of Christmas baubles on the end papers. Design and
decorate a Christmas bauble on paper or card.

The Littlest Christmas Tree – Hardcover

Another beautiful Christmas read from Little Tiger. The Littlest Christmas Tree offers all
the cosy feels! It explores the excitement of getting set up for Christmas and all the fun
that goes along with decorating. Most importantly though, it deals with the feelings of
sadness and disappointment when it’s time to take the tree down and tidy everything
away for another year. Thankfully Daddy bear has the perfect solution to little Cubby’s
problem.
A beautiful read, one to enjoy again and again across the festive season.
This will be a really lovely book to enjoy in preschool, the infant classroom or a cosy,
festive read at home.

Things to try at school:
● Decorate an outdoor tree.
● Revisit the illustrations – how many different animals feature in the story? Can you
name them?
● Design and decorate a special decoration for the class / school tree.
● Classroom discussion: On Christmas Day, Daddy Bear and Cubby had songs, games
and presents. What songs do you think they sang? What games might they have

played? What presents do you think Daddy Bear and Cubby might have got?

Things to try at home:
● Dinnertime discussion: Cubby said the tree filled his home with happiness. What
things make you feel happy at home?
● Take a drive or walk through your local area. How many outdoor Christmas trees
can you see?

Dig, Dig, Dinosaur

Not a Christmas theme but one to enjoy year-round! Dig Dig Dinosaur is a wonderfully
interactive, nonfiction read for the little dinosaur fans in your lives. With peep through
holes and fold-out pages, this text invites inquisitive and curious little eyes and hands to
explore and uncover facts and images about dinosaurs and fossils. The book also comes
with a QR code which can be scanned to access an audio read-aloud of the text. The text
itself is written by Professor Anali Goswami, a professor of palaeontology and the Natural
History Museum in London.
This is one for the preschool and infant classrooms!
Things to try at school:
● Recount skills: Can you remember all the dinosaurs that feature in the book?
● Explore the author: Learn about Professor Anjali Goswami and her work with
fossils!
● Class discussion: Which dinosaur is your favourite and why? Did it feature in the
book or not?
● Take some time to explore the illustrations in depth;
○ What colours and patterns can you see?
○ Explore the different shapes on the skeletons.
○ Can you name the different dinosaurs printed on the end papers?

Things to try at home:

● Dinnertime discussion: This book talks a lot about digging. What other things can
we dig?
● Dinnertime discussion: If dinosaurs were still alive today, where would they live?

About Clara:

Clara Fiorentini is a former primary school teacher, now lecturing in initial teacher education at Marino Institute of Education, Dublin where she specialises in literacy education and children’s literature. Clara provides CPD for teachers and early childhood educators in the areas of literacy, children’s literature, playful learning and school transitions. Clara is completing her PhD research on preschool literacy practices at Trinity College Dublin and is the current President of the Literacy Association of Ireland (2024). Clara is a huge advocate for children’s literature and the use of the read-aloud in school and the home.

You can connect with Clara via Instagram, X or via her website.
For contact and enquiries, please email: [email protected]