Product details
- ISBN 9780571391516
- Dimensions: 129 x 198mm
- Publication Date: 08 Oct 2026
- Publisher: Faber & Faber
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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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, 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, Tómas knows that this Christmas won't be quite the same - not without his Grandfather. But as the war draws closer, Tómas 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 - a bookshop.
Inspired by the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, where books are given as gifts on Christmas Eve.
Katherine Woodfine wrote Sunday Times bestseller The Clockwork Sparrow (shortlisted Waterstones Children's Book Prize), the Sinclair's Mysteries and Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series, as well as books for younger readers, Sophie Takes to the Sky and A Dancer's Dream. Based in Lancashire, Katherine also reviews for The Week Junior.
Lizzy Stewart is an author and illustrator who won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for There's a Tiger in the Garden. Based in South London, she teaches illustration at Goldsmiths.
