Prudence and the Crow
@prudenceandthecrow.bsky.social
The UK-based vintage paperback book subscription box and online bookshop.
Find our subscriptions and books for sale at https://prudenceandthecrow.com - and shop our art prints and stationery at https://mymble.com !
Find our subscriptions and books for sale at https://prudenceandthecrow.com - and shop our art prints and stationery at https://mymble.com !
Today's #patcadvent is Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs, the only creation of his that did not leave me with lasting trauma 😆 This is quite a gentle story about how Father Christmas delivers everybody's gifts before going home and wishing everybody "Happy Blooming Christmas!"
December 21, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Today's #patcadvent is Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs, the only creation of his that did not leave me with lasting trauma 😆 This is quite a gentle story about how Father Christmas delivers everybody's gifts before going home and wishing everybody "Happy Blooming Christmas!"
Day 20 of #patcadvent is The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Husband and wife, Allan and Janet, produced several children's classics over the years including The Jolly Postman (for he is Jolly all year round) and Each Peach Pear Plum which I love but Prudence is frightened of. ~C
December 20, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Day 20 of #patcadvent is The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Husband and wife, Allan and Janet, produced several children's classics over the years including The Jolly Postman (for he is Jolly all year round) and Each Peach Pear Plum which I love but Prudence is frightened of. ~C
Day 19 of #patcadvent is Maya Angelou's Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher from 2010.
"Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace.” - Maya Angelou
"Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace.” - Maya Angelou
December 19, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Day 19 of #patcadvent is Maya Angelou's Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher from 2010.
"Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace.” - Maya Angelou
"Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace.” - Maya Angelou
Yesterday's #patcadvent - C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and here, the Witch from the BBC TV version so beloved by us both (and fully available on YouTube).
December 19, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Yesterday's #patcadvent - C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and here, the Witch from the BBC TV version so beloved by us both (and fully available on YouTube).
Today's #patcadvent sees Babar the Elephant and a dog called Duck having a bit of an altercation with some snowball wielding gnomes (not to be confused with elves) just outside the Bohemian town of Prjmnestwe which, as everybody knows, is the home of Father Christmas, right?
December 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Today's #patcadvent sees Babar the Elephant and a dog called Duck having a bit of an altercation with some snowball wielding gnomes (not to be confused with elves) just outside the Bohemian town of Prjmnestwe which, as everybody knows, is the home of Father Christmas, right?
Day 16 of #patcadvent is from Beatrix Potter. There's only one Christmas Beatrix Potter story (The Tailor of Gloucester) but she painted and drew many, many Christmas pictures, most of which appeared on Christmas cards for her friends and family. Here's some bunnies playing a festive game!
December 16, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Day 16 of #patcadvent is from Beatrix Potter. There's only one Christmas Beatrix Potter story (The Tailor of Gloucester) but she painted and drew many, many Christmas pictures, most of which appeared on Christmas cards for her friends and family. Here's some bunnies playing a festive game!
Today's #patcadvent is On Christmas Eve, a wordless book illustrated by Peter Collington. The Christmas tree angels are gathering candles so they can make a landing strip for Santa so he doesn't miss the little girl.
This book was very special to me as a child; I'm not sure how well known it is? ~C
This book was very special to me as a child; I'm not sure how well known it is? ~C
December 14, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Today's #patcadvent is On Christmas Eve, a wordless book illustrated by Peter Collington. The Christmas tree angels are gathering candles so they can make a landing strip for Santa so he doesn't miss the little girl.
This book was very special to me as a child; I'm not sure how well known it is? ~C
This book was very special to me as a child; I'm not sure how well known it is? ~C
Day thirteen of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, a book Prudence and I recently re-read. Full of dark and ancient things, this makes for a marvellous Yuletide read... #patcadvent
December 13, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Day thirteen of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, a book Prudence and I recently re-read. Full of dark and ancient things, this makes for a marvellous Yuletide read... #patcadvent
Day 12 of #patcadvent is Petunia's Christmas written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. Originally published in 1952, Petunia is a slightly unhinged goose whose object of affection, Charles the gander, is destined for the farmer's Christmas table. Don't worry though - this story has a happy ending.
December 12, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Day 12 of #patcadvent is Petunia's Christmas written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. Originally published in 1952, Petunia is a slightly unhinged goose whose object of affection, Charles the gander, is destined for the farmer's Christmas table. Don't worry though - this story has a happy ending.
Day eleven of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Published in 1962, this book has a wonderful original style to it, boldly mixing watercolours with collage.
Words and illustration by Ezra Jack Keats. #patcadvent
Published in 1962, this book has a wonderful original style to it, boldly mixing watercolours with collage.
Words and illustration by Ezra Jack Keats. #patcadvent
December 11, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Day eleven of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Published in 1962, this book has a wonderful original style to it, boldly mixing watercolours with collage.
Words and illustration by Ezra Jack Keats. #patcadvent
Published in 1962, this book has a wonderful original style to it, boldly mixing watercolours with collage.
Words and illustration by Ezra Jack Keats. #patcadvent
Day 10 of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, illustrated here by Rohan Eason. Crow was genuinely scared of this one when she was small! I'm still quite bothered by these hungry wolf faces...
December 10, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Day 10 of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, illustrated here by Rohan Eason. Crow was genuinely scared of this one when she was small! I'm still quite bothered by these hungry wolf faces...
Here, in a cosy evening edition for Day 9 of #patcadvent, the tiny child characters of Wind in the Willows have come to carol sing at Mole's house. It is a delightful scene, and Crow has been telling me at length how absolutely adorable it is in the TV series.
December 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Here, in a cosy evening edition for Day 9 of #patcadvent, the tiny child characters of Wind in the Willows have come to carol sing at Mole's house. It is a delightful scene, and Crow has been telling me at length how absolutely adorable it is in the TV series.
Day 7 of #patcadvent is Noggin the Nog by Oliver Postgate & Peter Firmin. The animated tv series began in 1959, with books: 1965-77.
'Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old by the men of the Northlands, as they sat by their great log fires…'
'Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old by the men of the Northlands, as they sat by their great log fires…'
December 7, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Day 7 of #patcadvent is Noggin the Nog by Oliver Postgate & Peter Firmin. The animated tv series began in 1959, with books: 1965-77.
'Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old by the men of the Northlands, as they sat by their great log fires…'
'Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old by the men of the Northlands, as they sat by their great log fires…'
Day 6, #patcadvent winter-y, seasonal-ish read is Soonchild, by Russell Hoban,
illustrated by Alexis Deacon. It's a very peculiar, different piece of storytelling, audience unclear, which leaves you with a fair bit to reflect on. The illustrations make this quite the experience 💙📚
illustrated by Alexis Deacon. It's a very peculiar, different piece of storytelling, audience unclear, which leaves you with a fair bit to reflect on. The illustrations make this quite the experience 💙📚
December 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Day 6, #patcadvent winter-y, seasonal-ish read is Soonchild, by Russell Hoban,
illustrated by Alexis Deacon. It's a very peculiar, different piece of storytelling, audience unclear, which leaves you with a fair bit to reflect on. The illustrations make this quite the experience 💙📚
illustrated by Alexis Deacon. It's a very peculiar, different piece of storytelling, audience unclear, which leaves you with a fair bit to reflect on. The illustrations make this quite the experience 💙📚
Day 5 of #patcadvent is Shirley Hughes' Snow in the Garden: A First Book of Christmas. I have to admit to not having heard of this lovely anthology of winter stories, poems, recipies and crafts until this year. Published in 2018, every page is decorated with Shirley Hughes' beautiful illustrations.
December 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Day 5 of #patcadvent is Shirley Hughes' Snow in the Garden: A First Book of Christmas. I have to admit to not having heard of this lovely anthology of winter stories, poems, recipies and crafts until this year. Published in 2018, every page is decorated with Shirley Hughes' beautiful illustrations.
Day 4 of #patcadvent is Lotta's Christmas Surprise by Astrid Lindgren.
Lotta saves Christmas with the aid of her tenaciousness and ever-present toy pig, Bamsen 🐖🎄
Tragically out of print in its English translation so if you see a copy be sure to snap it up!
Illustration by Ilon Wilkland. 💙📚
Lotta saves Christmas with the aid of her tenaciousness and ever-present toy pig, Bamsen 🐖🎄
Tragically out of print in its English translation so if you see a copy be sure to snap it up!
Illustration by Ilon Wilkland. 💙📚
December 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Day 4 of #patcadvent is Lotta's Christmas Surprise by Astrid Lindgren.
Lotta saves Christmas with the aid of her tenaciousness and ever-present toy pig, Bamsen 🐖🎄
Tragically out of print in its English translation so if you see a copy be sure to snap it up!
Illustration by Ilon Wilkland. 💙📚
Lotta saves Christmas with the aid of her tenaciousness and ever-present toy pig, Bamsen 🐖🎄
Tragically out of print in its English translation so if you see a copy be sure to snap it up!
Illustration by Ilon Wilkland. 💙📚
Day 3 of #patcadvent is Waiting for Christmas by Monica Greenfield. Published in 1996, Waiting for Christmas follows the gentle adventures of two children as they decorate the tree, visit relatives and generally look forward to Christmas Day.
Illustration by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
Illustration by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
December 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Day 3 of #patcadvent is Waiting for Christmas by Monica Greenfield. Published in 1996, Waiting for Christmas follows the gentle adventures of two children as they decorate the tree, visit relatives and generally look forward to Christmas Day.
Illustration by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
Illustration by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
Merry #patcadvent Day 2! Moving westwards for this beautiful illustration, often used as a cover, by Edward Ardizzone, for Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales. If you've not heard Thomas reading it himself, very much recommend tinyurl.com/achildschris... where you can hear this in full.
December 2, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Merry #patcadvent Day 2! Moving westwards for this beautiful illustration, often used as a cover, by Edward Ardizzone, for Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales. If you've not heard Thomas reading it himself, very much recommend tinyurl.com/achildschris... where you can hear this in full.
Welcome once again to Prudence and the Crow Advent! Follow along (or mute!) with the hashtag #patcadvent
We begin with John Masefield's The Box of Delights - an intensely wintery tale. Perhaps you remember the (frankly a bit scary) '80s BBC adaptation?
Illustration: Sara Ogilvie 💙📚
We begin with John Masefield's The Box of Delights - an intensely wintery tale. Perhaps you remember the (frankly a bit scary) '80s BBC adaptation?
Illustration: Sara Ogilvie 💙📚
December 1, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Welcome once again to Prudence and the Crow Advent! Follow along (or mute!) with the hashtag #patcadvent
We begin with John Masefield's The Box of Delights - an intensely wintery tale. Perhaps you remember the (frankly a bit scary) '80s BBC adaptation?
Illustration: Sara Ogilvie 💙📚
We begin with John Masefield's The Box of Delights - an intensely wintery tale. Perhaps you remember the (frankly a bit scary) '80s BBC adaptation?
Illustration: Sara Ogilvie 💙📚
Dead-End Memories, by Banana Yoshimoto (Hallowe'en gift!). Proper rainy Sunday morning reading scenario today.
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Dead-End Memories, by Banana Yoshimoto (Hallowe'en gift!). Proper rainy Sunday morning reading scenario today.
On the 1st January this year I started reading Crow The Fellowship of the Ring at bedtime, mostly 1-2 bits a night. It is indeed perfectly chunked for bedtime reading. I did not sing the songs. There is a lot of walking. I relearnt many obscure nature words. My Elves are all Welsh. We continue. 💙📚
October 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
On the 1st January this year I started reading Crow The Fellowship of the Ring at bedtime, mostly 1-2 bits a night. It is indeed perfectly chunked for bedtime reading. I did not sing the songs. There is a lot of walking. I relearnt many obscure nature words. My Elves are all Welsh. We continue. 💙📚
Hi hi! Very excited to settle in with Melanie Burrows' latest on the life of Marie Antoinette, just right for right now...
October 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Hi hi! Very excited to settle in with Melanie Burrows' latest on the life of Marie Antoinette, just right for right now...
Bret Easton Ellis' The Shards, which is taking me back to teenage summers with exactly the right amount of malice and anxiety...
August 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Bret Easton Ellis' The Shards, which is taking me back to teenage summers with exactly the right amount of malice and anxiety...
screaming
what more could a 1957 husband want from dinner than this
what more could a 1957 husband want from dinner than this
July 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
screaming
what more could a 1957 husband want from dinner than this
what more could a 1957 husband want from dinner than this
Finally allowing myself to settle down for the evening with my treasured stack of 1950's American Better Homes magazines. The gadget adverts and recipes alone are astonishing.
July 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Finally allowing myself to settle down for the evening with my treasured stack of 1950's American Better Homes magazines. The gadget adverts and recipes alone are astonishing.