A Sack Full of Presents and a Very Big Christmas Rush!

Christmas Eve should run like clockwork. Pack the sack, harness the reindeer, deliver the presents.

But what happens when Father Christmas has one little rest and wakes up late?

That is where my picture book, Father Christmas and the Mad Christmas Rush!, begins. And with a penguin on a wheel and a great big cheese to deliver, this is hardly going to be an ordinary night!

I wanted to create a Christmas story that feels wonderfully traditional, with snowy rooftops, sparkling trees, cosy firesides and Father Christmas in his familiar red suit. But I also wanted to make children laugh. Even the most experienced present-deliverer can have trouble with a tight chimney, a ticklish nose and a cheese that refuses to stay where it belongs.

As Father Christmas hurries around the world, his pocket watch keeps ticking. There are sleeping children to tiptoe past, mince pies that look far too tempting and one last teddy who must reach a very special home before morning.

Will everything be ready before the children wake up?

The book is filled with beautiful festive illustrations and short, lively text for children aged six and under. There are noisy moments to join in with, silly mishaps to giggle at and little details to discover in the pictures. I hope it becomes the sort of book children bring over with the words, “Can we read it again?”

For me, part of the joy of Christmas is sharing stories. A warm room, a favourite blanket and a book read aloud can turn an ordinary evening into something children remember. This story brings together that cosy feeling with the excitement of the busiest night of the year.

Whether you are choosing a festive bedtime story, adding a book to a Christmas Eve box or looking for a present for a little reader, Father Christmas and the Mad Christmas Rush! is ready to bring some laughter to your celebrations.

Pick up your copy ready for Christmas and climb aboard the sleigh. Father Christmas is waiting, but only just!