Willowwick · Read, wonder, make
A little Christmas welcome
You need: these two sheets and pencils. A grown-up reads; children can talk, point, draw or listen. No book purchase is needed.
1. Enjoy the busy beginning
In Willowwick, Christmas began with a clatter: the kettle, the scissors, a splatter of batter. Dad folded paper. Mum warmed up the pot. Toby stacked toast till it wobbled a lot. Rosie cut stars with a snip and a bend. One spare chair stood ready in case of a friend. They packed all their ribbons and stepped through the door. Pickle checked under the table once more.
Opening from The Missing Christmas Star · Words by Joshua Hall
Make a little sound: whisper “snip” or tap a gentle kitchen rhythm. What else can you hear in your imagination?
2. Choose one thing to wonder about
- What did you notice first?
- Who might the spare chair be for?
- What could make that visitor feel welcome?
3. Invent a welcome on sheet 2
Imagine a neighbour, a talking fox or a snowperson with cold toes. Offer two things they could choose to do. Ask what they would like.
Make it yours: draw one visitor, add a speech bubble or act out an invitation with toys. Everyone may pass. Families celebrate in different ways; you can imagine this story without sharing your own traditions.
Willowwick · Read, wonder, make
Make a welcome of your own
Who will visit? Invent someone and draw their welcome. There is no need to guess what happens in the book.
Our imaginary visitor
Draw them here. What might they say?
What would you like to do? Offer two choices. Listening or watching can be a choice too.
They could choose…
Or they could…
We would ask our visitor…
Our invitation begins: “Come and…”
Act it out together: one person is the host, the other the visitor. Try your invitation, then swap roles. What if the visitor brings a different idea?