Gaspard’s Christmas by Zeb Soanes

 

Gaspard’s Christmas is the fourth in the series of picture books about Gaspard the Fox, illustrated by James Mayhew. The first book was inspired by my daily encounters with a real fox (you can see photos of the real Gaspard on my instagram page or on www.gaspardthefox.com ). It was a magical connection with a wild animal and on long train journey one day I sketched out the first story. I cycle to work on a folding Brompton bicycle (which features in the books) and one day I spotted a cat on a gatepost, with a fox sat directly beneath it. They were clearly acquainted and were happily watching the world go by. This was the origin of Gaspard’s first meeting with Peter the Cat in the first story.

Gaspard the Fox was followed by Gaspard Best in Show, then Gaspard’s Foxtrot which was set to music as a narrated concert-work by the composer Jonathan Dove. Jonathan has worked his same musical magic with the latest book Gaspard’s Christmas. It receives its premiere with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Friday 23rd December. I’ll be narrating the story on stage with James Mayhew illustrating live.

Gaspard’s Christmas is an important book to me because, when I turned over the idea of a Christmas story, I didn’t simply want it to be an adventure with familiar characters in the snow. In the spirit of Christmas tales past, I wanted it to have a message and to hopefully do a little good. So, Gaspard discovers a homeless man freezing on the streets and summons his friends, Peter and Finty (a little dog) to help. Peter convinces himself, spotting a resemblance to a jolly figure on a nearby advertising poster, that this is in fact father Christmas, who has fallen out of his sleigh and if they don’t fetch help, nobody (not least him!) will get any presents. The animals do manage to summon help and the man is taken to the crypt of the local church where there is a seasonal homeless shelter.

It is a story about kindness and the value of community and I hope that Children take that away with them. I’ve long been a supporter of St Martin-in-the-Fields and, from the outset, I wanted to gift royalties from the book in perpetuity to their work, inspired by J.M. Barrie’s bequest of his Peter Pan royalties to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, nearly 100 years ago. James Mayhew agreed without hesitation, helping to ensure more people have a place to call home, not only this Christmas but all year round.

At the back of the book is a brief child-friendly explanation of why some people don’t have a home and there is a letter from Sam Wells, the vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields to thank you for buying the book.

You can hear a recording of Gaspard’s Christmas, narrated by me with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, broadcast on Classic FM on Sunday 18th December at 6.30pm.

Gaspard’s Christmas is published by Graffeg Books and is available now.

 

Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation.