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Hello booklovers,

Today we bring you our final Book Advent installment. We hope you have enjoyed it and that Book Advent has brought some literary cheer to your December. Maybe you will spend the 12 days of Christmas reading some of our recommendations? Book Advent concludes with the work of a much loved children’s author who we sadly lost in 2022. We dedicate our celebration of Christmas reads to the one and only Shirley Hughes. Hiding behind Advent door 24 is… Dogger’s Christmas. Enjoy!

Christmas is a busy time for Dave and his family – there are carols to sing, presents to wrap and treats to eat. In the hustle and the bustle of the celebrations, his cuddly friend Dogger remains. Dogger doesn’t mind that Dave has slightly missed him amidst the festivities, or that Dave forgot to hang out a stocking for his faithful friend. But disaster strikes – on Christmas evening, Dogger is missing! Will he be found in time for Boxing Day? Luckily Dave has a very practical big sister who saves the day in a flash of festive sparkle and Christmas magic.

Shirley Hughes once again captures effortlessly the fun and muddle of childhood and of family Christmases, complete with gentle text relatable to all children (and parents…). This is a festive book to treasure and a wonderful tribute to the glorious work of a much loved and much missed children’s author.

Have a merry Christmas booklovers, and all the best for a bright New Year. We will be back in 2023 with news of next year’s festival. Have a wonderful, festive time!

Christmas wishes,

Imogen and the festival team x

Hello booklovers,

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Our guest writer Anna draws our attention to a lesser known but just as special festive story – Can It Be True? by author supreme Susan Hill.

Susan Hill has been one of my literary companions since my teenage years. Her novel In the Springtime of the Year was amongst the first to make me cry, and I have travelled with her through many of her novels, wonderful short stories, chilling ghostly tales and lately to her compelling policeman Simon Serailler.

Can it be True? is a story for Christmas and beyond. In the version in our house it is accompanied by the most beautiful illustrations by Angela Barrett. An important question is being passed through the community at midnight on Christmas Eve. Hunters and hunted alike are joined in a shared purpose to find out the truth. And in this beautiful rhythmic piece of prose poetry, their journey is documented, until they find the answer. A lovely addition to any Christmas library.

Christmas wishes,

Anna x

 

 

Hello booklovers,

Our guest writer, Anna, brings us today’s Advent treat – a childhood favourite for many and a Christmas classic for all. We are delighted to present The Snowman by the late, great Raymond Briggs.

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. The beautiful animated film shown for 40 years on channel 4 has become for many an essential part of their Christmas celebrations.  Our dvd version has David Bowie introducing it, adding to the charm.

The book upon which it is based is somewhat different from the film. Ever since my brother got Fungus the Bogeyman in his stocking one year, we have been huge fans of Raymond Briggs. Father Christmas, Father Christmas Goes on Holiday, and The Snowman, quickly followed that wonderful irreverent green snotty book onto our shelves of favourites. Sorting our Christmas books this year, I actually read The Snowman for the first time in awhile. As usual I was surprised by my reading being solely of the stunning succession of pictures, with no accompanying words, the film acknowledging that with its silent animation. But this time I also realised that the book is much less festive than the film. There is no Christmas tree, no Snowman party, no Father Christmas…

Essentially this seems to be a story of friendship, encapsulating the wonder and magic of childhood, but with an edge of things to come in its depiction of loss. Raymond Briggs at his best, never cute or sentimental with his readers however young they maybe. Despite this, the book remains cheek by jowl with all our Christmas titles, it’s message clear as a Christmas bell without the tinsel. And there’s always all that snow to fall back on.

Festive wishes,

Anna x

Hello booklovers,

Welcome to the solstice – the shortest day of the year. We are in the midst of the darkness, but from tomorrow, little by little, the light will return. With lights in mind, today’s Advent offering will shine through on a gloomy day: The Lights that Dance in the Night by Yuval Zommer.

In this luminous picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the journey of the northern lights all the way from outer space to earth, and the creatures and people that they meet along the way. From bringing joy to polar bears and intriguing seals and puffins, making whales sing and reindeers shimmer, the lights bring hope to everyone. Stunning illustrations and lyrical verse makes for a beautiful book for families to share over Christmastime when homes are filled with joy and light. May it bring brightness to you in these dark times.

Christmas wishes,

Imogen x