An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree

A rollicking seasonal picture book about a group of Australian animals struggling to find the right decorations for their Christmas gum tree.

From his lofty watch post, Possum is drawn to the sight of a distant tree covered in sparkling trinkets. A Christmas Tree, according to Kookaburra. So begins a quest in which Possum and his crafty crew of helpers try very hard to decorate their very own Christmas gum tree from Bowerbird’s treasure trove. But it’s not as easy as you might think!

About the Author

Jackie Hosking is a Nigerian-born Cornish Australian who moved to Australia when she was ten. Jackie began writing for children after completing a creative writing course at her local community house in a seaside town off The Great Ocean Road in Victoria. In 2012 she was awarded a Maurice Saxby Mentorship and in 2011 she mentored a Maurice Saxby Mentee on writing in rhyme. Her picture book The Croc and the Platypus was published by Walker Books Australia in 2014, followed by An Amazing Australian Road Trip in 2021. In 2019 Jackie was awarded a May Gibbs Creative Time Fellowship where she spent a month in Canberra. Jackie loves to write in rhyme and when she's not writing in rhyme she enjoys helping others with their rhyme.

About the Illustrator

Nathaniel Eckstrom is an illustrator based in Sydney, Australia. He has worked on a number of children's picture books including Stubborn Stanley, The Hole Idea, Roadtrip and The Dress-Box. His previous titles with Walker Books include Duck!, written by Meg McKinlay, and Ten Little Figs, written by Rhian Williams.