With Christmas less than a month
away (eek!), I’m busy writing a newspaper piece about great festive reads for
children.
One of my favourites so far is
Richard Curtis’s The Empty Stocking.
The prodigiously talented Curtis – director and screenwriter extraordinaire –
has written an enchanting tale for children, with sweet illustrations by
Rebecca Cobb.
It’s the story of seven-year-old
twin sisters Sam and Charlie, who look the same but couldn’t be more different.
Sam is angelic, while Charlie is
quite naughty. Or as Curtis puts it: “Not interested in being obedient. Quite
often very grumpy. Not very fond of telling the complete truth. But very fond
of eating sweets, making a filthy racket and having too much fun.” (Actually,
come to think of it, Charlie sounds the life and soul of the party).
The little girls can’t wait for
Christmas and excitedly hang their stockings at the end of their beds on
Christmas Eve. But the big question is - will Santa fill both their stockings
with presents this year? Or is it time he got tough?
This is a lovely picture book for
small children – and as well as being an exuberant and heart-warming tale, it’s
got an important message too.
The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis
(Puffin, £6.99)
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