True Blue Santa

True Blue Santa

The beautiful new picture book that celebrates all the things we love about Christmas in Australia!

Fake snow, robins on Christmas cards and reindeer instead of roos ... Christmas in Australia is simply far too European!

So Jack and Hannah decide it needs an all-Australian makeover and with the help of Santa they swap snow for sunshine, Christmas stockings for thongs, ice for icy-poles and more!

Beautifully illustrated, Anne Mangan and Kim Fleming's True Blue Santa is the perfect gift for little dinky-di Aussies this Christmas!

Anne Mangan was born in London, and migrated with her family to Australia when she was two. She is currently employed as a social worker in country Victoria, where she lives with her family.

Kim Fleming creates playful illustrations for children using watercolours, collage and coloured pencils on paper. She has exhibited in the USA and Australia, and her illustrations have been featured in magazines, interactive children's games and educational readers. This is her first picture book.

True Blue Santa
HarperCollins
Author: Anne Mangan
Illustrator: Kim Fleming
ISBN: 978073229060
Price: $14.99

Interview with Anne Mangan

Question: Why did you decide to write True Blue Santa?

Anne Mangan: It all began when my four year old daughter Hannah, noticing that Christmas was approaching asked me when it was going to snow. It got me thinking about Christmas and how it was about time that Australians reinvented Christmas to make it more aussie. I should add I was pregnant at the time and not sleeping very well so True Blue Santa was largely written between two and five in the morning. I ended up looking forward to not being able to sleep.


Question: Why do you think it is important to have emus instead of reindeers?

Anne Mangan: I wanted an animal that Australian children could identify with. I thought about using kangaroos to pull the sleigh but felt it had already been done in previous children's books. Then I stumbled upon using emus and the more I thought about it the more I realised they were perfect- a big bird that can pull the sleigh but will need to learn to fly.


Question: Why do you think this book will appeal to young children and their families?

Anne Mangan: I think it will appeal because it includes a version of Christmas that Australian children and families actually experience, rather than the northern part of the world's version which involves snow, cold weather and toasty fireplaces. I hope it also appeals because it touches on multiculturalism, is a little bit modern and it rhymes.


Question: What is your fondest memory of Christmas?

Anne Mangan: Having relatives with us for Christmas. It didn't happen often because we migrated from England and our relatives were all overseas but when it did it was very special.


Question: How do you like to celebrate Christmas?

Anne Mangan: Now I have children its all about them. We have two sets of elderly grandparents to visit so its off to Melbourne and then Ballarat- the travelling is exhausting but its great to spend time with family.


Review: A Christmas story that rings true to all Australian kids, and perfect gift this Christmas! Every Australian family should own a copy of this one.