The Christmas Book by Katherine Woodfine illustrated by Lizzy Stewart

"Grandfather had been a fisherman, but he had also been a teller of tales. He had so many stories of valiant rescues and brave deeds at sea ... But the tales the children loved hearing best of all were his legends of gods and giants, dwarves and dragons, heroes and hunters. Old tales that made the warm kitchen feel full of strange magic."

Grandfather told the children Icelandic stories about characters such as Yggdrasil (the tree); Asgard (home of the gods); and Thor, Oddin and Loki. Your local or school library might have books about Norse Mythology such as these:

YES! I am talking about a Christmas book and it is only October but this is a book I really want you to add to your gift list and then you should plan to read this book over the Christmas period as a family read aloud. AND good news - this book is a small hard cover with a dust jacket for less than AUS$20.

My copy of this book was a surprise gift this week from a book lover friend. It is so great to read a book where my plot predictions are totally wrong. I absolutely did not expect the ending of The Christmas Book - and I need to say it was utterly perfect. 

Bookseller blurb (spoiler alert): 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, and cookies, and Grandmother's embroidered tablecloth, and they would all do what they could to make the Yuletide bright. Picking his way home across the lava field, Tomas knows that this Christmas won't be quite the same - not without his Grandfather. But as the war draws closer, Tomas devises 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. Donning his grandfather's jumper for courage, working hard at chores for neighbours, he takes his hard-earned pennies to shop for presents - only to find all the shops empty of stock. This is war time and rationing. There is just one shop still open ... Inspired by the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod, where books are given as gifts on Christmas Eve.

The art in The Christmas Book is also truly special. You can see inside this book on Lizzy Stewart's Instagram page. 

Here are two other books illustrated by Lizzy Stewart:

I previously talked about these books by Katherine Woodfine - I highly recommend her as an author you should add to your school library.

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow

Rose's Dress of Dreams

Sophie takes to the Skies