Advent & Christmas

Stories inside

Three example books from this collection. Every story is written fresh from your own prompt, so no two families end up with the same one.

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  Story 01

  The Christmas Journey

  The long road to Bethlehem, the stable, and the wonder of the very first Christmas.

  Most nativity books start at the stable. This one starts on the road, because the walk to Bethlehem was long, cold and unglamorous, and that is what makes the ending land.

  Your child walks it. They lead the donkey, they knock on the doors that have no room, and they are in the straw when the baby arrives.

  The stable is drawn warm rather than pretty: animals close by, breath in the air, one lamp. It is a book families tend to read every December until it falls apart.

  What it draws on

  The road, the full inns, the stable, and the first hours of Christmas night.

  Your child's part

  On the journey from the first mile, and beside the manger at the end.

  Start their story

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  Story 02

  The Shepherds' Night

  An ordinary night on the hillside, until the sky fills with light.

  The shepherds were working a night shift on a cold hillside, which is about as ordinary as a night gets, and then the sky opened.

  Your child is on the hill with them, close to the fire, when the light arrives. The illustrations go from near dark to full gold across a single turn of the page, which is the effect the story wants.

  After that it is a run downhill in the dark to find out whether any of it was true, and an arrival at the door, out of breath.

  What it draws on

  The night watch, the sky filling with light, the message, and the run down to Bethlehem.

  Your child's part

  Keeping watch with the shepherds, and first to the door.

  Start their story

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  Story 03

  Waiting for the Light

  Four candles, four weeks, and learning that some good things are worth waiting for.

  Advent asks a child to wait four weeks, which is close to forever, and these stories are honest about that rather than pretending otherwise.

  Your child lights the candles in turn, and the light grows as the wreath fills up, so the waiting becomes something you can see.

  Good for December either way, a little at a time as the weeks go by or straight through on a night when nobody can sleep.

  What it draws on

  Four candles across four weeks, and the room getting brighter each time.

  Your child's part

  Lighting each candle, and counting down to the last one.

  Start their story