EBOOK
About
One grumpy snow thief. One tiny, watchful sidekick. One Irish town about to have a very muddy Christmas.
In Glensnow, a small Irish town, Christmas is getting on The Cloch's nerves. There is too much sparkle, too much slush, and far too much excitement about photographs of the very same snowy tree. All he wants is a little peace and quiet. Surely that is not too much to ask?
His solution seems perfectly sensible: steal the snow.
Armed with a copper lantern glowing with captured sunrise, The Cloch carefully gathers up winter's white blankets and replaces them with practical grey weather. No more snow means no more fuss. Or so he thinks.
But The Cloch is not making this journey alone. At his side is a small brown wren: a faithful companion, an attentive observer, and a tiny presence with a surprising amount of personality. From the kitchen to the wet streets of Glensnow, the little bird watches his preparations, tilts its head at the results, and delivers the occasional blink that seems to say rather more than a speech could. There are crumbs to share, warm places to settle, and small, springing hops to make. Readers may find themselves keeping one eye on The Cloch's grand plans and the other on what his feathered sidekick is doing.
Meanwhile, Glensnow is discovering the drawbacks of a Christmas without snow. There is mud. There are puddles. And there are sledges making a truly dreadful noise on the cobbles. The Cloch's clever solution has left the children disappointed-and has not brought him quite the tranquillity he expected.
A patient stonemason makes room for him and offers a different way of looking at things. Perhaps wanting quiet is not the problem. Perhaps the trouble begins when one person's wishes leave no room for anyone else's. Then a suspicious white heap appears in the town square, and The Cloch has another winter problem on his hands.
Can someone so certain of his own good sense admit that he might have been wrong? And can he put things right without giving up the little comforts that matter to him-and to the wren?
The Cloch and the Great Winter Heist is an illustrated Christmas story in playful verse, bringing together winter magic, dry humour, friendship, and the awkward business of changing your mind. Its recurring refrains invite readers to join in, while mischievous closing lines send the verse in unexpected directions. Beneath the lantern light and snowy adventures is a warm story about kindness, compromise, and taking responsibility for the mess you have made.
The atmospheric illustrations give families plenty to linger over, from the streets of Glensnow to the small details of The Cloch's world. Read a few verses together, pause to enjoy a picture or a particularly odd last line, or settle in for a longer winter adventure.
For children aged 7-12 and the grown-ups who read with them, this is a Christmas book for those who enjoy unusual characters, a little nonsense, and humour with a gentle heart. Above all, it is a story about finding a little peace while leaving room for other people's joy-with a small brown wren close by.
In Glensnow, a small Irish town, Christmas is getting on The Cloch's nerves. There is too much sparkle, too much slush, and far too much excitement about photographs of the very same snowy tree. All he wants is a little peace and quiet. Surely that is not too much to ask?
His solution seems perfectly sensible: steal the snow.
Armed with a copper lantern glowing with captured sunrise, The Cloch carefully gathers up winter's white blankets and replaces them with practical grey weather. No more snow means no more fuss. Or so he thinks.
But The Cloch is not making this journey alone. At his side is a small brown wren: a faithful companion, an attentive observer, and a tiny presence with a surprising amount of personality. From the kitchen to the wet streets of Glensnow, the little bird watches his preparations, tilts its head at the results, and delivers the occasional blink that seems to say rather more than a speech could. There are crumbs to share, warm places to settle, and small, springing hops to make. Readers may find themselves keeping one eye on The Cloch's grand plans and the other on what his feathered sidekick is doing.
Meanwhile, Glensnow is discovering the drawbacks of a Christmas without snow. There is mud. There are puddles. And there are sledges making a truly dreadful noise on the cobbles. The Cloch's clever solution has left the children disappointed-and has not brought him quite the tranquillity he expected.
A patient stonemason makes room for him and offers a different way of looking at things. Perhaps wanting quiet is not the problem. Perhaps the trouble begins when one person's wishes leave no room for anyone else's. Then a suspicious white heap appears in the town square, and The Cloch has another winter problem on his hands.
Can someone so certain of his own good sense admit that he might have been wrong? And can he put things right without giving up the little comforts that matter to him-and to the wren?
The Cloch and the Great Winter Heist is an illustrated Christmas story in playful verse, bringing together winter magic, dry humour, friendship, and the awkward business of changing your mind. Its recurring refrains invite readers to join in, while mischievous closing lines send the verse in unexpected directions. Beneath the lantern light and snowy adventures is a warm story about kindness, compromise, and taking responsibility for the mess you have made.
The atmospheric illustrations give families plenty to linger over, from the streets of Glensnow to the small details of The Cloch's world. Read a few verses together, pause to enjoy a picture or a particularly odd last line, or settle in for a longer winter adventure.
For children aged 7-12 and the grown-ups who read with them, this is a Christmas book for those who enjoy unusual characters, a little nonsense, and humour with a gentle heart. Above all, it is a story about finding a little peace while leaving room for other people's joy-with a small brown wren close by.