The Three Wishes: A Christmas Story

By Author / Illustrator

Alan Snow

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

Pavilion Books

ISBN

9781843653868

Format

Hardback

Published

12-11-2020

Synopsis

A beautifully-told and stunningly-illustrated Father Christmas origin story.

Coming together like a perfect festive jigsaw, this story explains all of the traditions and myths around Santa Claus, from how he travels around the world in one night, how his sleigh and reindeer can fly, and why he leaves presents, to the origins of his red coat.

A young boy is herding his family's reindeer when they are drawn into a mysterious cave. The cave is the holder of eternal summer, looked after by three strange characters - a wooden creature, a bird and a fish. Once entered, the cave cannot be left without time in the outside world standing still. In his sadness at not being able to leave, the boy is granted three wishes and chooses freedom, happiness and time. He is told that they will all be granted - eventually.

After the first year of working hard in the summer cave, the boy is allowed to see his family in the outside world. Time stands still as he visits his parents, and he leaves gifts behind to show that he has visited. As the years go by, this annual visit continues and he begins to call on not only his parents, but more and more other families... and Christmas traditions as we know them, start to be created.

Reviews

A beautifully illustrated adventure story all about how the magic of Christmas came about!

One day, a small boy gets lost in the woods. When he tries to find his way home, he ends up entering a magical world. The boy is amazed by the new world but is saddened when he is told he isn't allowed to go home. As time goes on, the boy learns lots of new things and enjoys his new life, however, he still longs to go home and see his family.

As the story continues, the boy is allowed to begin visiting his family in the outer world, however, he is not allowed to let them see him. He begins to visit them at night time while they are sleeping and leaves them gifts to show them he has been. He then returns to the magical kingdom to help them. Every year, he travels to see them and gives them special presents during the night. Eventually, he is given a magical sleigh to travel on and a special red suit to wear.

This is a beautiful story to let children's imagination wonder about who Father Christmas is, where he came from and how he completes his magical job. Throughout the story, the message is reiterated that the most important thing of all is having freedom and happiness.

A really beautiful story - important morals, magical ideas and amazing illustrations.

Picture Book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Lucy Newton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Stories of Father Christmas abound, but few are as refreshingly different as this new sumptuously illustrated one by Alan Snow. He seems to have combined knowledge of life for the Caribou (reindeer) herders of the high Arctic with the vivid imagination of a seasoned storyteller.

It's a tale of loss, but also of enduring love that can bridge impossible divides; of a boy who can never live with his loved ones again, but considers his options and chooses well what he needs for to continue living: happiness, freedom and time. In doing so, he finds a way of blessing others for generations to come.

What I liked best was the lack of 'twee' and tinsel. Instead, we see how the familiar figure of a kind-hearted, bearded gent might have originated in another culture, while still ensuring that he remains a magical and believable character.

This book is full of homeliness and wisdom, enough to warm your hearts on a cold day. It would make a beautiful present and will help children of, perhaps, six and upwards to explore the perennial enigma that is Father Christmas.

Picture Book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian