Alison Uttley Stories for Christmas: Chosen by Kathleen Lines

by Alison Uttley, Kathleen Lines (Compiler), Gavin Rowe (Illustrator)

This book contains:
Foreword by Kathleen Lines
The Little Fir Tree
The Christmas Box
The Doll's House
The Christmas Surprise
The Fairy Ship
The Holly Bears a Berry
Tom Tit and the Fir-Tree
The Kissing-Bunch
Christmas at Brock the Badger's House
The Weather Cock
The Three Wise Men
The Fir-Trees and the Christmas Tree

Genres: Christmas, Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Alison Uttley (17 December 1884 – 7 May 1976), née Alice Jane Taylor, was a prolific British writer of over 100 books. She is now best known for her children's series about Little Grey Rabbit, and Sam Pig.

For more information, please see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_U...

http://www.answers.com/topic/alison-u...

Reviews

[tonia peckover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saved this collection of children's stories for reading during the twelve days of Christmas. They are just what stories should be: magical, odd, beautiful, old-fashioned; full of secret creatures and decorating mice, angels and fairies, Jack Frost and Santa Claus, blue satin-sailed ships, fir trees longing for beauty, mysterious visitors in the night, and Christmas wonders. Some stories rise above the others, but all are infused with awe and stir up the right kind of inspiration for making Christmas special.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and countrified, this is a book of short stories for reading aloud to children of any age. A treasury of antiquated customs is preserved in its pages. I'd never heard of a Kissing Bunch but it is a familiar sight in many of the stories. In the days before Christmas trees, a round ball of greenery and choice berries (often of holly) was suspended from the ceiling and underneath it a visitor must take a kiss. Apples, oranges, gilded walnuts and silver bells might be added to the Kissing Bunch to make it more decorative.

My favourite of the stories was Holly Bears A Berry and The Christmas Surprise which features a group of mice who, on Pax Night, Christmas Eve, declare peace with the cat so together they can decorate a house for a family whose mother is ill in hospital, father is sad and children not up to celebrating.

The story of The Weathercock contains an interesting tidbit regarding the old pronunciation of wind, to rhyme with behind and mind.
East Wind, East Wind,
Stay behind, stay behind.
A wind from the north,
Pray don't come forth.
A West Wind, A West Wind,
Put on your cloak and never mind.
A wind to the south
Is sweet to the mouth.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Overview
An utterly whimsical collection of read from another time. I had great fun reading this as we have headed into the festive season.

Style
In an old style, where some of the detail is just not required, Alison Uttley writes well. The stories are all standalone, and the writing works for all of them.

Story
This collection of stories harkens back to a simpler time, and does so with great fun and whimsy.

Final Thoughts
Outside of Christmas, I wouldn't have touched this (obviously), but it a fine read on these cold nights.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories in this collection are taken from other books by Alison Uttley. I learned all about the "kissing bunch" from this book - a ball made of various bits of greenery which people would kiss under - this predates kissing under mistletoe! The stories are rather dated - I'm not sure whether they'd appeal to today's readers or not. They're sweet tales, but I imagine would be better read as part of the stories they were written for.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for children -

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.

5 Stars = For sentimental reasons.