I would love to share with you a few highlights from one of my all-time favourite Christmas Books. Alison Uttley, was an English Children’s author, who was born and brought up on a farm in Derbyshire at the end of the 19th Century. ‘The yearly tasks of sowing, harvesting and preserving were an important part of her childhood. Feast days and holidays were highlights and Christmas was especially important to the young Alison. Her mother spent many hours baking and preparing food for the festivities.’
This delightful book features the most exquisite illustrations by Margaret Tempest, who worked with Alison Uttley for almost 40 years.
It was first published in 1939 (way before my time), but I’m sure you will agree it still deserves a place on any child’s bookshelf! This book conjurs up a great deal of nostalgia and captures the simple childhood delights of Christmases gone by.
Front cover
It opens with the words:
It had been snowing for hours. Hare stood in the garden of the little house at the end of the woods, watching the snowflakes tumbling down like white feathers from the gray sky.”
“However did you get inside a snowball?” asked Hare. “I didn’t get inside. It got around me,” replied Fuzzypeg.
“It’s a Christmas Tree,” replied Mole. “It’s for all the birds and beasts of the woods and fields.”
What a treasure of a book!
I’d really love to hear about any Vintage Christmas books that you recall from childhood!
Angela Jelf Writes... 
Love this idea
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Dear Angela,
What a clever idea! I love advent calendars and ever since our children were little, December 1st began the thrilling search for that first advent window and the countdown to Christmas! Now, the tradition continues in our household, but instead of giving calendars to our children, PaPa and Grandma give them to our 3 grandchildren. In all these years of giving advent calendars, I’ve never had one myself. Now, because of you, I finally have my first advent calendar!
I am looking forward to each “new window” and seeing each special treat you have in store for us. I loved today’s excerpts from “Little Gray Rabbit’s Christmas”…”However did I get inside a snowball?” (haha!) and “Mistletoe white and holly red.” So endearing and charming! ❤ Trenda
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Hello my lovely friend – Aaah I am so pleased that you get to have your first Advent Calendar! I hope I can come up with the goods each day – I’ve never been very good at regular blogging!
Oh I know, the bit about the getting inside a snowball is just hilarious, isn’t it? So charming! xx
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