Papa Panov was an old shoemaker, who lived in a Russian village.
It was Christmas Eve and he was expecting a special visitor the next day. He found the very best pair of tiny leather shoes that he had ever made.
‘ That’s what I shall give him.’ He said.
The next day, Christmas Day, he made a really warm fire, put some coffee on the stove and waited. He had several visitors that day, the old road sweeper, a young mother with a baby. He asked them into the warm and gave them coffee. He gave the best pair of shoes that he had ever made to the baby.
But still the special person didn’t come.
As it got dark, he sat in his chair. Two large tears welled up in his eyes.
“Dearie, dearie” he said. It seemed as if someone was in the room. A voice said, ” I was cold and you made me warm, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. Didn’t you see me Papa Panov?”
Papa Panov is a beautiful, old french story, retold by Leo Tolstoy . It captures the heart of Christmas without too much tinsel.
Papa Panov’s Special Day has been adapted by Mig Holder and illustrated by Julie Dowling.
There’s also a CD which features Papa Panov as a story.
This story is one of several Christmas stories that will be on Dolphin Bookblog this Christmas.
Dolphinboooksellers.co.uk for children’s books and information on line.
Continue reading Papa Panov’s Special Day – Books for Christmas
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