Children’s Christmas picture book with a local connection

Architect Anne Swift from Wootton Rivers has teamed up with children’s author Karen Inglis to produce a new Christmas picture book for children aged 3 to 5+. ’The Christmas Tree Wish’ tells the story of Little Bruce Spruce, Penelope Pine, Douglas Fir and many others. It is, says Karen, “A heart-warming tale of hope and friendship with the message that it’s ok to be different”.

“This is a story that had been going around in my head for years after I saw a small bedraggled Christmas tree left unsold one dark evening a few days before Christmas.

I knew I wanted hand-drawn illustrations rather than digital, so it was a question of finding the right person. Anne, a great friend for over 25 years, is an architect by day but has always turned her hand effortlessly to other creative projects. If I had thought to ask her sooner if she could try children’s illustrations this book would have been out years ago.”

Anne told marlborough.news that she had found producing the illustrations for the book “great fun.”

‘The Christmas Tree Wish’ is self-published and has been translated into French and German. It has already become a best seller in children’s picture books in France. Karen has also had considerable success with her book for older children, a time travelling adventure, ‘The Secret Lake’. This book has been a self-published best seller in the UK and USA and sold over 40,000 copies.