CM Magazine: Timothy Tweedle, the First Christmas Elf.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 21 . . . . June 22, 2001

Timothy Tweedle, the First Christmas Elf.

Sharon McKay. Illustrated by Stephanie Pyren-Fortel.
Toronto, ON: Balmur Book Publishing (Distributed in Canada by General Distribution Services), 2000.
40 pp., pbk., $14.95.
ISBN 1-894454-07-3.

Subject Heading: Christmas-Fiction.

Grades Preschool - 1 / Ages 4 - 6.

Review by Lorraine Douglas.

* /4

excerpt:

When the sun came up it was Mary's sweet face that Timothy saw first. She passed him a thimbleful of frothy, hot chocolate just as Nicholas came in. "Ho, ho, ho," he chuckled. "It's good to see you back in the land of the living."

This picture book appeared as an animated Christmas television special in the year 2000 on Global. Timothy Tweedle, the tiniest elf of all, is "elfnapped" by an evil woman and her assistants and kept in a cage. Timothy is put on display in their traveling show, but one night he manages to escape. He is helped by a kind "Big People" couple named Nicholas and Mary. On Timothy's trail, the evil "elfnappers" discover Nicholas' barn full of toys and steal them all. All of the elves help out in replenishing the supply, and, when the crooks return, they are captured. Nicholas (really Santa Claus) takes Timothy on his sleigh to deliver all the toys around the world.

The illustrations accompanying the text have a "Disney-like" look, and the portrayals of the elf and human features are often a little awkwardly drawn. The story is very predictable and lacking in surprise or imagination.

Not Recommended.

Lorraine Douglas is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Winnipeg Public Library.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - June 22, 2001.