katherine woodfine

COMING SOON!

 

Inspired by an Icelandic book-gifting tradition, this beautiful story, illustrated with full colour artwork throughout, and decorated endpapers, is the perfect gift for sharing during the Christmas period.

 

"It was Christmas Eve in the little farmhouse. The air was full of good smells of spices and jam and hot cocoa. No one was expecting any presents, but there would be leaf bread, cookies, Grandmother’s embroidered tablecloth, and they would all do what they could to make the Yuletide bright."

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Tómas picks his way across the lava field, heading home from school; he knows that Christmas won’t be the same this year, not without his grandfather. It is wartime and the town is rationing stock and black-out blinds are in the windows.

 

But Tómas has devised a plan to ensure his grandfather’s stories will still be at the heart of his family’s Christmas – even if it means being braver than a boy ever dreamed he could be. He puts on his grandfather’s jumper to give him courage and offers to do chores for all his neighbours. But when he takes his hard-earned coins to the high street, he discovers that there is only one shop with gifts to sell - thankfully, it is the very best shop of them all: a bookshop!

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Inspired by the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, where books are given as gifts on Christmas Eve.

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Illustrated by Lizzy Stewart

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A beautiful, heart-warming story perfect for families reading together at Christmas ― Joseph Coelho

What an absolute treat!  ― Emma Carroll

Incredibly lovely. The art is absolutely beautiful ― David Litchfield

Absolutely beautiful and made me cry! It includes some of my most favourite things - books, Christmas, Icelandic knitwear and a volcano! ― Rebecca Cobb

A perfect jewel of a story ... Christmas spirit at its most beautiful ― Abi Elphinstone

I loved it! ― Ævar Þór Benediktsson

Full of warmth and charm. A book to be treasured year after year - Rachel Chivers Khoo 

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