Review: Celebration Festival by Alysia Kelly

 Right from the fun cover illustrations I knew we would love Celebration Festival by Alysia Kelly. There are balloons, lanterns, fireworks, dancing and stomping in a barrel of tomatoes. What could be more fun than a whole festival of celebrations!

illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith

Publisher: Larrikin House

Publication date: 28th January 2026

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: $24.99AU (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Everyone in Evie's local community is coming together to share their special celebration in a spectacular Celebration Festival and Evie gets to crown the winner. How will she decide which celebration is the best?

This fabulous picture book goes through month by month featuring wonderful celebrations from around the world. Information and facts on the different celebrations are included at a level to be understood by the targeted audience of 4 - 8 years. Alysia Kelly doesn't only include big festivals but also fun, and maybe unknown, events like Spaghetti Day, Wildlife Day and World Laughter Day.

Celebration Festival is a delightful picture book packed with celebratory facts that will have you celebrating the whole year through.

Follow Evie and her cheeky little dog Biscuit as they join in with all the different celebrations from January through to December. There is so much to celebrate and be thankful for that it couldn't all fit into this book.

I loved the cartoon style illustrations by Ruth-Mary Smith. Evie is just gorgeous with her curly ginger hair and her cute, happy face. And you can't not fall in love with Biscuit the cheeky dog.

Celebration Festival is a book that will constantly be in use as each month's special days are celebrated with the whole family.

I'm excited for World Laughter Day Sunday 3rd May. Laughter is the best medicine. 🤣

This wonderful book isn't only a fun read that will keep the children engaged, it's also the perfect opener to talk about the different ways people celebrate around the world. You can start your own celebrations each month and also think of other celebration days not mentioned, and how people celebrate them.

Celebration Festival has so much scope for further activities, crafts, cooking and discussion in the classroom and at home.

Celebration Festival is a fun and valuable addition to any library.

My rating 5 / 5 💃💃💃💃💃

Recommended age: 4 - 8 years

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