The Christmas Book

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 has worked for BookTrust and YALC and reviews children's books for The Week Junior. Her first book, The Clockwork Sparrow was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Lizzy Stewart is an illustrator and artist based in south-east London. Lizzy also teaches at Goldsmith's University and in hospitals on behalf of the National Portrait Gallery.