A young boy lives near a beach where Pōhutukawa trees blossom late December, in New Zealand.

Christmas is only 5 days away, and the boy wonders when the presents will arrive?

‘Not yet,’ says Māmā. ‘But why don’t you see

if there’s anything under the pōhutukawa tree?’

 

The boy doesn’t find any Christmas wrapped gifts outside, but he does find something to help him build a kingdom of sandcastles.

With only 4 days to Christmas, there are still no gifts under his tree at home. A suggestion from his dad to check the pōhutukawa tree, sends him running out across the sand.

He counts down the days. 3. 2. 1. checking the pōhutukawa tree every day. Suddenly, the day he’s been waiting for is finally here. But there are still no wrapped presents under his tree at home. These longed for gifts have now been overshadowed by wonderful daily gifts from the pōhutukawa tree.

Pāpā just smiles. ‘Well then, let’s go,

because under that tree we’ve got something to show.’

 

This time, something truly special awaits!

A new Aotearoa New Zealand Christmas picture book for 2024!

With the NZ Christmas setting of blue skies, a sandy beach and native birds singing in the trees, this perfectly captures a kiwi summer countdown to Christmas.

It seems the story is all about the presents – but as each day passes without gifts under the tree at home, a young boy realises the gifts he is receiving every day from the pōhutukawa tree not far from his home.

I loved watching the tree blossoms bloom more and more each day, as Māmā and Pāpā slowly decorate the tree inside. The simple rhyming text builds the anticipation all children feel as Christmas approaches, and adds even more to this delightful story.

te Reo Māori is woven throughout the story and a glossary of these words is provided at the end.

Author / Illustrator – Steven Kay

Picture Book

(2024, Bateman Books, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Christmas Countdown, Kiwi Christmas, Beach, Tree, Nature’s Gifts, Presents, te reo, Family, Anticipation)