Sarah McIntyre's Advent Calendar 2020

Last year I bought a big Disney advent calendar at the supermarket when I discovered the insides were quite generic, just pretty numbered pockets with little books in them. I saved the little books, but I replaced them with my own, handmade little stories, and turned it into a Christmas gift for my co-author Philip Reeve and his family. Of course, since I gave it to them at Christmas, it had to be a post-advent calendar, to brighten the dark days after Christmas. But I was thinking it would be fun to bring it out again and revisit the silly little books, posting one a day from Dec 1st (or as many as I can). Here's what the calendar looks like when you open the big covers, with its little pockets for miniature books: I painted over the cover with gesso, and drew my own design, then covered the edges with red bookbinding tape. Here's the front cover: And the back cover: Stay tuned! In the meantime, if you're looking for Christmas prezzies, I have two new books out this year, Kevin and the Biscuit Bandit (with Philip) - roughly for ages 7 and up - and Don't Call Me Grumpycorn, a picture book for all ages. Both books have lots of book-related free activities on my website (click the links) to keep readers busy for Boxing Day and beyond, when they've finished the books. And if you'd like to get signed bookplates, Page 45 have exclusive bookplates here, Philip Reeve is offering additional Kevin bookplates here, and I'm offering additional Grumpycorn bookplates here. Plus, I have cards, prints and gift tags in my online shop: besides Christmas cards, packs of cards make great gifts because they're flat, light, and ship easily.