Christmas Time The Snow Queen Book Review: A Fairy Tale for Families

Christmas Time The Snow Queen book review: what the story is about

Set in a magical winter wonderland, the story follows Gerda, a brave young girl, on her quest to rescue her friend Kai from the Snow Queen.

Along the way she meets talking animals, helpful robbers and a wise old woman, who all help her. It is full of adventure, friendship and the power of love, and it captures the spirit of the season.

Meet the characters

• Gerda: the courageous heroine who sets out to rescue Kai from the Snow Queen's palace.
• Kai: Gerda's friend, taken by the Snow Queen and kept in her icy palace.
• The Snow Queen: the cold, mysterious ruler of the frozen kingdom.
• The Robbers: funny, eccentric characters who befriend Gerda and help her find Kai.

Why it is a holiday favourite

The Snow Queen is a classic that has charmed readers for generations. Its themes of bravery, loyalty and love speak to every age, which makes it a natural pick for the holiday season.

The pictures and story together bring the tale to life for children and adults alike.

The illustrations

The pictures are rich in colour and intricate detail. From the shimmering ice palace to the snowy landscapes, each page adds to the magic of the story.

Christmas Time The Snow Queen book for kids: format and what children learn

It is a children's picture book made for sharing with the whole family over the holidays. The large format and sturdy pages suit young readers, and the timeless story means it gets brought out year after year.

How it helps a child's development

• Imagination: following Gerda through the frozen kingdom encourages creative thinking.
• Values: bravery, friendship and love, and the message to believe in yourself and never give up hope.
• Love of stories: a first taste of fairy tales and folklore.

Holiday tip Keep this one with the festive decorations and bring it out only in December. A book that appears once a year feels special every time.

About the publisher

The publisher is known for quality children's books built around classic tales and timeless stories, made to entertain, educate and inspire a love of reading.

Similar winter and Christmas books

• "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen
• "The Nutcracker" by Susan Jeffers
• "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg

Gift it right: Christmas Time The Snow Queen as a birthday gift

A fairy tale picture book that the whole family can share makes this one of the lovelier books as birthday gifts for kids, and a ready-made Christmas present too. Add a name label inside the cover and a name sticker on the wrapping.

See all personalised book labels, or browse our gifts for kids to pair the book with something more.

Read next

• Christmas Time The Nutcracker book review
• Snow Princess book review
• Christmas Activity Book Felt Stickers review
• How to raise a reader: building lifelong reading habits