(suggested) reading age: 3-7
(suggested) interest age: 3-7
Illustration: Siôn Morris https://www.sionmorris.cinnamondesign.co.uk/
Gwales Description
A charming Christmas story about a special secret. Did you know that all animals can talk to each other on Christmas Eve? In this story they help a deprived refugee find a home in Bethlehem, Wales. A contemporary story, relevant to our times, with an important lesson about being kind to everyone, of all background and race.
Dark Days in Britain
Sometimes, I can barely look at the news because it's so awful. War in Ukraine. War in the Middle East. It's all so desperately sad.
Recently, the news was very shocking, and it wasn’t something in a faraway land either, but something on our very own doorstep. In the wake of the disgusting attack on a group of children in a dancing class in Merseyside, violent riots and clashes with police started spreading across England.
And whilst the dance-school incident was reported to be an isolated attack, some extremist groups have used the public outrage as an excuse to spread misinformation and hatred towards refugees and members of the Muslim community. I was very deeply ashamed and embarrassed to see young men waving St George's flags whilst trying to set a hotel in Rotherham, with migrants inside, on fire.
Books about Refugees
Regardless, in the wake of all the media reports at the time, many have been asking about recent books discussing refugees. No doubt as a result of many questions from young children who probably don’t understand how people can be so mean to each other. So I scratched my head thinking which ones to recommend.
I struggled to think of many examples. Y Crwt yn y Cefn by Onjali Rauf is for older children, but Cyfrinach Noswyl Nadolig is the one best suited for young children.
The author, Eurgain Haf from Pontypridd, has just won the Prose Medal at the 2024 Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddod. (Congratulations, by the way!) She wrote the book largely because of her work with the charity Save the Children, Wales.
Loosely, the story follows a young refugee, a boy named Samir, who finds himself in an strange country after coming here on the back of a lorry. How frighetning it must have been for him. Thankfully, he arrived safely here in Wales. And it’s another good thing that he arrived on a very special night - Christmas Eve. But why is this so special? Well, something amazing happens on this night. All the animals can talk, but for one night only.
In a narrative that reminds me a little bit of how all the animals help each other in the Disney film 101 Dalmatians, they all come together to lend Samir a hand in finding a new family here in Wales.
Sadly, at the beginning of the story Samir has no one, as his Mother and Father have been killed in a war. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the horrific situation Samir has escaped from and why he can’t go back. I'm glad the picture shows the violence and destruction, because this is a visual way of explaining what's going on. It is a good opportunity to have a discussion with young children and answer likely questions they will have.
With so much talk on the news about people crossing The Channel seeking asylum, the book is a great way to introduce the subject, and is a great opportunity to teach compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings. This is a very useful book for school assembly or classroom work. It's hard to put ourselves in other people's shoes, but this lovely book is helpful when trying to see the world from someone else’s perspective. If nothing else it shows us how lucky we are.
I won't spoil the end, but there's a real unexpected twist that may need to be explained to a young reader.
Whilst the Christmas theme serves as a backdrop for the story, this isn't your usual Christmas book. In fact, it can - and should - be read and discussed all year round. Whilst we might sit round the fire eating mince pies with our loved ones at Christmas, not everyone will be so lucky...
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