Happy 90th Birthday Shirley Hughes!
Shirley Hughes’ picture books were a staple of my primary school years and we often borrowed her stories from the library. Her instantly recognisable illustrations immediately transport me back to the book corner in my school classrooms and one of my most cherished childhood books is my well-loved copy of My Naughty Little Sister which Shirley illustrated.…
J is for Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells is a beautiful little hardback with a sturdy, sparkly cover, it’s the perfect size for a Christmas stocking. The two little mice in the story are very clever although the solution to their problem doesn’t amuse Cat!…
The Story: It’s a simple account of the preparations for a family Christmas and the day itself, told with Hughes’ characteristic warmth and eye for detail. It recalls much of my own childhood experience of the day and captures the essence of what I would love my own children to remember eventually.…
The Story: This is a hilarious retelling of the Nativity story told from the point of view of the Innkeeper. There was nothing the innkeeper liked more than a good night’s sleep but he keeps getting disturbed by constant knocks on the door.…
The Story: One winter’s night, a badger arrives in the forest, cold and hungry. There is little food in the harsh wintertime, but something special about the kind, gentle badger moves Fox, Mouse and Hare. They each help as best they can, and Badger goes on his way.…
The Story: Two small children prepare for a traditional family Christmas. The story begins with them stirring the pudding, and ends with them seen through the window on the evening of Christmas Day, their home all lit up and shining out into the darkness, beneath a message for us all: on earth peace, good will toward men.…
The Story: Father Christmas is busily flying around the world, delivering gifts. At every stop off, he’s given some form of liquid (non-alcoholic) refreshment – with the inevitable consequence that, fairly soon, he’s desperate to use the loo. We’ve all been there.…