This is a wonderful collection of poems for older children at Christmas. Starting with the Advent season in the cold of winter, the book travels through the joys and mysteries of Christmas. It moves from cards to carols, bells to angels, holy to stars, trees to Santa Claus until it reaches the birth of Jesus in the manger, the adoration of the shepherds, and the coming of the Kings. And finally it looks forward to the New Year and our hope for the future. There is host of poems here, with the emphasis on modern poets to give a fresh slant on Christmas. The poets range from Blake, Clare, Donne, and Herrick, through Stevenson, de la Mare, Hardy and Rossetti, to Dylan Thomas, John Hegley, Charles Causley, Sylvia Plath, U.A. Fanthorpe, Ted Hughes, and many others. Beautifully illustrated by a number of talented artists, the book will prove a constant joy to children and all the family at Christmas.