Author Archives: sarahtoddtaylor

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Six – The Girl’s Wish

The Girl’s Wish ‘Wish Star, Wish Star, Brightly shine Grant tonight This wish of mine. Mothers’ skill and fabric fine Bring a dress as red as wine.’   At ten o clock on Christmas night Lisette brought her grandmother a cup of tea and a bowl of cold water to dip her fingers in. SoContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Six – The Girl’s Wish”

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Five – The Dressmaker and the Mayor’s Wish

 The Dressmaker The Mayor thought that no-one had seen him wishing, but one person had. In the town hall there was a lady who worked as a cleaner. Her name was Mrs Porfit and she had worked for the mayor for thirty years. She liked his kindly ways and he liked her quick wit andContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Five – The Dressmaker and the Mayor’s Wish”

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Four – The Mayor

The Mayor  The grand Mayor of the town stood in the middle of the town hall looking at tables spread with every type of lovely food you could imagine. He was a kind man and was looking forward to later in the evening when the carol service was finished and the town gathered in theContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Four – The Mayor”

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Three – The Girl

I hope you’re enjoying the story so far. Today the wish star receives another wish. The Girl At the other end of the street, near the house where the small boy lived, there was a girl. She was also wrapping a present, but hers was for her mother. It was very small but it wasContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Three – The Girl”

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Two – The Dog and the Shopkeeper

I hope you all enjoyed yesterday’s first part of The Wish Star and the Five Wishes. Today the little star hears two more wishes. Will she grant any of them? The Dog She did not need to wait long. Outside in the cold a few streets away from where the boy wished for a pet,Continue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Two – The Dog and the Shopkeeper”

The Wish Star and the Five Wishes – Part One, The Star and the Boy

I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas stories lately. There is something magical about them. They are one of the few types of story where we permit ourselves to enjoy unabashed joyfulness and positivity. I decided this year to try to write my own – a story about a little star who has only one wishContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes – Part One, The Star and the Boy”

Books for Advent 3 – The Church Mice at Christmas

One of my absolute favourite Christmas books this week. Graham Oakley’s wonderful Church Mice books have been a well-loved part of childhood since their first outing in 1972. Published in 1980, The Church Mice at Christmas is the seventh title in the series and sees Arthur, Humphrey and rest of the canny church mice tryingContinue reading “Books for Advent 3 – The Church Mice at Christmas”

Books for Advent 2 – Bear Stays Up

This week I’m cheating a little and recommending two picture books for you – both involving Bears who want to see Santa. Bear Stays Up by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman is a charming tale of a bear whose friends are determined not to let him sleep through Christmas. The animals are beautifully rendered, withContinue reading “Books for Advent 2 – Bear Stays Up”

Books for Advent 1 – The Christmas Mystery

Jostein Gaarder’s wonderful The Christmas Mystery is an advent calendar in book form. The best way to read it is to open one of its 24 short chapters each day, beginning on December 1st and let the adventure unfold gradually, rather than racing through it in one sitting. I can’t find my copy at theContinue reading “Books for Advent 1 – The Christmas Mystery”