Winter is a time for reading a ripping yarn. It’s dark and cold. You want a comfy sofa, a warm fire, a massive cuppa or something more medicinal and a book. It’s a time for Dickens and ghost stories. Kids want in on this too.
We still do story time and a few years ago, as a family, we read A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig. I will fangirl about Matt Haig another time because I need you to read this book. Whether you’ve got kids or not, I don’t care. Read it. Read it aloud to the dog if you must, this is the spirit of Christmas in book form and it makes your heart sparkle.
It is the story of Nikolas, a little boy with a hard life who believes in happiness. He is brave, funny and hopeful. His tale is filled with adventure and daring-do. Plus a mouse named Mike who is so much fun to voice. In our house he is very sulky and Northern.
This is a book that always calls for one more chapter with the monkeys acting it out as we go. It’s so Christmassy you can hear sleigh bells when you pick it up.
It is the start of a trilogy. Last year we read The Girl Who Saved Christmas, this year we start Father Christmas And Me. I can’t wait.
So mince pies at the ready, grab your mug of hot chocolate, sit comfortably and I shall begin…