Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 09 Dec 2025

A Welly Full of Christmas by Attie Lime, illustrated by Nadine Licence

I already have quite a lot of children’s books with a Christmas theme and so was intrigued to see that this slim poetry book, a second collection by this author, promised more ‘festive fun.’ When I recently shared it with my two grandsons, they immediately commented on the title and the cover illustration because it contradicted their expectations of the more traditional Christmas stocking. Having got our attention (as presumably intended), we were ready to read on. We enjoyed many of the poems, but decided to focus on three favourites to discuss in more detail.

Things I Looked up Online to Put on My Christmas List

This one chimed with my seven- year-old grandson who always likes plenty of forward planning when compiling a lengthy wish list. He is also quite ambitious with his demands and so was keen on several of the items:

‘Turbo-powered gaming chair

Neon-coloured underwear

Silver-plated Lamborghini

Magic lamp (with generous genie)’

He declared that last line was excellent because getting that would mean he could keep asking for stuff all year round!

 

The Name’s Claus

This one appealed to my nine-year-old grandson because he reckoned it was ‘short, clever and funny at the same time.’ He told us that he had often wondered why Santa needed so many different names when the rest of us usually only have two or three:

‘and given his difficult job,

Would it be simpler

To just call him Bob?’

 

Christmas Eve

As I get old and grey and full of sleep, I find that I have my fondest memories of the nights before Christmas that used to be so packed with delicious anticipation when I was a child. The poet captures that special feeling so perfectly:

‘The absolute best part of Christmas

Is that silent slice of night

When you’re all alone

In the hug of the dark

Imagining’

I recommend this illustrated book that contains a good mix of quiet and laugh out loud poems published by Tiny Tree just in time for the festive season. You will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop and if they don’t have copies on their shelves, they will be happy to order it for you.

Karen Argent

December 2025