by Chitra Soundar
illustrated by Soofiya
 
Siblings, Nikhil and Jay are back and they’re off with Amma and Appa to visit their grandparents in Chenni, India. But it’s the Christmas and New Year season so Nikhil and Jay have some concerns- how will they get a Christmas tree? What about the ornaments? And how will they feed Father Christmas his usual mince pie? An even more pressing worry is how their beloved Max the Cat will survive back in the UK without them. Will Aunty Nor have the necessary kitty skills to take care of him? Perhaps they should face time Max…
Meantime there are new foods to taste (doughnuts and steamed peanuts!), wildlife to discover (Tiger Butterflies and Rose-Ringed parakeets!), a trip to the Marina beach (along the Bay of Bengal) and the vast sculpture of Tamil poet, Valluvar. 
 
A family adventure wrapped in to four snappy, short stories, delivered with Chitra Soundar’s trademark light and humorous touch, extended by Soofiya’s sweet and expressive comic illustrations. Backnotes include a recipe for Chennai Granny’s Kesari and a glossary of words. Dual heritage family. [You can also enjoy Nikhil & Jay’s adventures on CBeebies.]  Age 6-9, Paperback 96pp 
 
Themes: Diverse Families