Majestiful (it’s a real word ask Molly! Lol) This has to be one of the most hilarious & heartwarming Christmas books I’ve read. It’s your traditional nativity story but with a fabulous & unique twist and comes with a delightful array of characters that will have you smiling & laughing throughout especially the beautiful Molly. Molly is adorable from the clothes she wears to the things she says & does, she is just pure joy and innocence. My favourite character by far. It’s also a story about family. Not just the fun of spending the festive season together but the stresses that that can bring too. It’s an honest portrayal of when families come together. (I’ve even had a Lady Lucifer in my life, too! Lol) I won’t lie, you will cry but I promise, as heartbreaking as it is, it will also fill you with love & happiness. Oh, and how can I forget the illustrations? Amazing! They capture the pure joy and fun of the story in a quirky and fabulous way. It’s brilliant having those characters (especially Molly) come alive on the page. Love them! ♥️ A beautiful Christmas must read for the entire family. Thank you, NetGalley & Usborne Publishing, for this Crimbo-tastic arc.

What a delightful festive story!! Poor Oscar has a huge task on his hands - he has to help the angel Gabriel to locate Mary, Joseph, Balthazar, Steve (he's a shepherd!) and THE donkey in order to get them back to their own time because otherwise THERE WILL BE NO MORE CHRISTMAS!!! Amusing capers soon ensue but the story has much to say about the real meaning of Christmas - it's not just about the gifts, it's a time for family, helping others and traditions. The angel Gabriel has some very wise words to say on the subject of grief too, you will swing between chuckles and 'oh I appear to have something in my eye' with this MG tale.

Such a heart-warming story that will definitely make your eyes teary but also wi make you laugh! It has a great balance of deeper topics but as well light-hearted fun! It is a Christmas story with meaning, and exploration the importance of family, and believing. The part where a young boy talks with an angel is totally a moment where I needed some tissues. On a level thus, it is about finding about lost people and how to overcome challenges - emotional ones as well. But all of this wrapped in a joyful Christmas structure! I loved it how it reflects on family traditions such as plays, baking, and carol singing. There were so many charming moments in it! I had loads of chuckling moments. Illustrations by Katie Kear are absolutely amazing! What an awesome cover! I highly recommend this book here, and always in our branch as well - especially if you are looking for a Christmas book which tells a tale of how Christmas is not only about gifts - ironically, I do think it is a great Christmas gift haha. :)

'Operation Nativity' by Jenny Pearson is a brilliantly funny, poignant and endearing Christmas tale. Much more than a story about putting on a nativity; this is about the meaning of family, from birth to death and with all the heart-warming hilarity in-between. I enjoyed this so much - laughing out loud on many occasions! It is also fabulously illustrated by Katie Kear throughout. One of my Christmas picks for my school's December newsletter! ​I work in a Church of England school so Christmas, and the nativity, is taken very, very seriously. So it's wonderfully refreshing that Jenny Pearson has taken a different spin on it all, while still honouring what Christmas is all about. Uprooting the real characters of the nativity to modern times is just genius and so, so funny!  I particularly loved exchanges about commonplace things that absolutely confuse the likes of the Angel Gabriel, such as mistaking a plane for the star leading them to Bethlehem. To understand what a plane he is, he's told that it's like a metal camel with wings, at which point the Angel Gabriel says that it is definitely not something they should follow! The book is packed with moments like this that are very endearing. As with Jenny Pearson's other book this year 'Grandpa Frank's Great Big Bucket List', humour comes through the very real relationships between family members - all the awkward conversations, mishaps and misunderstandings that come with it all. Arguably, in 'Operation Nativity', the Biblical characters are less important than Oscar and Molly, Granddad and the rest of their family. At the end, the reason for the Angel Gabriel's return is so bittersweet and touching you will need a tissue to hand.  Because what Jenny Pearson does best is make us laugh while warming our hearts. Unlike some other funny writers (I'm thinking of particular celebrity ones) Jenny Pearson's humour reminds us of the value we hold in our relationships and what truly matters - she really gets children and family. Alongside the outrageous premise and hilarious set-pieces, Jenny Pearson brilliantly reflects all of us with wit, warmth and fainting vicars.  ​ ​ ​

What an incredible heartwarming Christmas story full of faith, heart, & even humor. When Oscar & Molly rush outside to investigate a crash in the night, they're not expecting to find a dazed Angel Gabriel wandering around their grandparents' back garden. And they're certainly not expecting to find themselves in a race to save Christmas. But if they don't track down a missing shepherd, wise man, donkey & the actual Mary & Joseph, who've all crash-landed in Chipping Bottom, not only will Christmas cease to exist, but they will too. Operation Nativity is on. I enjoy all Christmas reads pretty much, but it was so refreshing & just plain AWESOME to finally read a Christmas story that involves what Christmas is really about. It’s not about presents or “Santa”. The true meaning of Christmas & why it’s celebrated is in here, as well as great further meaning of what’s important-again, it’s not the presents, but spending time & making precious memories with the ones you love. How precious life itself is, the meaning of life/death, & just cherishing those moments & holding them close. The author does all these themes/messages in the perfect way for MG readers, & weaves the perfect amount of humor throughout with the most endearing & lovable characters-Including our MC Oscar, & his bold & fearless little sister Molly, who is a riot lol. This is an atmospheric Christmas read full of real Christmas truth/magic, family, humor, adventure, & incredible messages. Along with the stunning cover, the book is full of just as stunning illustrations throughout by Katie Kear that bring the story to life before your eyes. HIGHLY recommend.