Title: Friends of the Enchanted Forest – How They Save Christmas
Author: Glenda Crenshaw
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media
ISBN: 978-1-64908-866-6
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 36
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
In this fanciful story, Friends of the Enchanted Forest – How They Save Christmas, author Glenda Crenshaw introduces readers to a group of animal friends. There is a skunk named Sweetie – because of the sweet smell it emits when happy, but look out when it gets mad! There is a porcupine named Billy and a monkey named Charlie. Also, a raccoon named Sticky and a fox named Jumper round out the bunch.
These personified animals live happily and content in their part of a magical forest which gives them each a special power. For example, Charlie, the monkey, has incredible eyesight and is very fast on his feet, yet a prankster at heart. Billy has his razor-sharp quills, Jumper can leap very high, and Sticky, the raccoon, understands humans.
Christmas was in two weeks, and each of these animals were preparing their gift-list to send to Santa when, all of a sudden, they discover something awful – Santa and his reindeer were frozen solid! The animal friends had to figure out what to do; how would they thaw out Santa? So, they sought the help of the Old Wise Owl. The Owl instructed them to go on a journey to the far side of the forest, where they need to encounter a beautiful witch, known for her casting of cold spells, and somehow take her magic wand, then use that to melt Santa. The team embarked on their mission which becomes the main thrust of this story.
The narration of this story comes from a written feminine loving voice, as it would be if the author was to tell this to a group of youngsters. Nothing gets violent yet there is danger, and none of the animals become hurt although there are perils are challenges to them all throughout their mission. The occasional full-page illustrations fill-in the details needed for kids to grasp the imagery of this fantasy world and visualize how these animals look. There is a foreshadowed catch to the ending, which I admit I did not see coming, so my compliments go out to the story-telling skills of the author.
Friends of the Enchanted Forest – How They Save Christmas is written with ample text, imaginative illustrations, bold and interesting characters, and themed with the heroism of saving Santa. Glenda Crenshaw skillfully covered all of the bases in her creation of a book which can be a Christmas story, yet able to be read and enjoyed at any time of the year. What’s more, she has brought to life some very wonderful animal friends, in which readers will undoubtably hope to see teaming up in other adventures – perhaps sequels yet to be published? We certainly hope so.
