Alfie's Christmas

Description

It's Christmas for Alfie, and what a celebration this beautiful book is! Join Alfie and Annie Rose for Christmas! Alfie opens his advent calendar and makes cards and presents. He sings carols and decorates the tree. And he writes a special letter to Father Christmas... But what will Father Christmas bring on Christmas Day? It's going to be such an exciting day!

Shirley was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She then embarked on a career as a freelance illustrator in London, where she still lives today. She illustrated other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier, Margaret Mahy and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger and the Alfie series. Shirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature, and a CBE in 2017. She is the first recipient of Booktrust's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Brimming with nostalgic appeal, Alfie and Annie Rose are busy with advent calendars, Christmas trees and carols. Perfect for sharing in the build-up to the big day. * The Bookseller * Hughes' loving observation reflects our better selves. * The Sunday Times * Childhood would be diminished without Hughes's simple, perfectly told tales of family life... Heartbreakingly beautiful illustrations... Hughes's wonderful London street scene is, for me, the perfect Christmas Day in a walnut shell. * The Times - Children's Books of the Year * With their gentle illustrations of family life Shirley Hughes' Alfie stories have been entertaining pre-school children for more than 30 years. In Alfie's Christmas the little boy is excitedly making decorations, writing cards and buying presents. An enchanting book that will get everyone in the Christmas spirit. * Daily Express * Alfie and Annie-Rose fans can catch a wonderful glimpse into their adventures in the run-up to Christmas. Shirley Hughes has captured excitement and expectation, as Alfie and his family prepare for the big day. Our Mumsnet December book of the month. * Mumsnet website *