Cosy Christmas Stories

Actor, author, comedian, presenter, and writer Matt Lucas is one of the most recognisable personalities in British television. Matt first came to prominence as George Dawes in the seminal comedy Shooting Stars. However, he is perhaps best known for his work co-creating the three-time BAFTA winning BBC comedy, Little Britain.

Matt’s film credits including Alice in Wonderland, Paddington, Polar and Bridesmaids, TV credits including Doctor Who, and theatre projects including Les Misérables. Matt recently starred in Wonka and Gladiator II.

Matt is the author of bestselling children’s books, including The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas; Thank You, Baked Potato to raise money for Feed NHS; My Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Silly Book of Jokes, Pranks and Games.

Dorothy Edwards dreamt up 'My Naughty Little Sister' whilst on a family holiday in 1950. Dorothy based the character on her younger sister, Phyllis, and went on to write five books about her naughty little sister with wide acclaim. Dorothy became a household name and her stories were read and loved across the globe. She became a fixture of a radio show in the 1950s called Read with Mother and she also wrote for Playschool and Jackanory. Dorothy died in 1982, aged 68.

Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE FRSL FKC DL is a writer, playwright, performer and librettist. The author of more than 150 children’s books, he has sold over 35 million copies worldwide and in almost 40 languages. A former teacher and vocal spokesperson for the benefits of reading for pleasure, he is currently the President of Book Trust. Between 2003–2005 he was Children’s Laureate and in 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Many of Michael’s books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the phenomenal National Theatre adaptation of War Horse, which has been seen by over 10 million people in over 100 cities around the world, broke the West End record for weekly ticket sales, and won 5 Tony Awards and 2 Olivier Awards. Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.

Alan Snow studied fashion design and illustration at Salisbury. He worked as a wedding dress designer, car designer and tree surgeon before becoming a children’s book illustrator. He has also been involved in a number of computer animation projects, including a Peter Gabriel video.

Arnold Lobel (1933–1987) illustrated many wonderful children’s books but is most beloved for his Frog and Toad stories, including the first one, Frog and Toad Are Friends, published in 1970. The books have garnered much acclaim, including a Caldecott Honor for Frog and Toad Are Friends and a Newbery Honor for Frog and Toad Together. These were followed by Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad.