Father Christmas and the Three Bears

Lou Peacock

Margarita Kukhtina

First published 2022 by Nosy Crow Ltd

The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place, Crosby Row, London, SE1 1YW, UK

Nosy Crow Eireann Ltd

44 Orchard Grove, Kenmare, Co Kerry, V93 FY22, Ireland

www.nosycrow.com

ISBN 978 1 83994 569 4 (HB)

ISBN 978 1 83994 570 0 (PB)

Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd.

Text by Lou Peacock

Text © Nosy Crow 2022

Illustrations © Margarita Kukhtina 2022

The right of Lou Peacock to be identified as the author and of Margarita Kukhtina to be identified as the illustrator of this work has been asserted. All rights reserved.

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (HB)

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (PB)

To Sean, the cleverest engineer I know xx – L.P. For Nikolay – M.K.

It was the night before Christmas, and Father Christmas had almost finished delivering all the presents to all the children on his Big List.

Almost . . . but not quite. There was just the village of the Back of Beyond left.

But Father Christmas couldn’t stop yawning.

“I’ll just stop at the Three Bears’ cottage for a little rest,” he thought. “No one will ever know.”

“Helloooo o! ”

called Father Christmas.

But although three steaming bowls of porridge stood on the table, the Three Bears weren’t at home.

“Well,” he thought, “I’m sure they won’t mind if I sit down, just for a moment . . .”

But the fire was so warm and the chair so very comfy . . .

that Father Christmas soon fell fast asleep.

He didn’t hear Daddy Bear open the door. He didn’t hear Mummy Bear gasp, “Who’s that sleeping in my chair?”

And when Baby Bear said, “Wake up! Wake up!

It’s almost Christmas!”

Father Christmas just began to snore.

So . . .

Baby Bear set off all the alarm clocks . . .

and Daddy Bear had an even better idea . . .

Mummy Bear played ‘Jingle Bells’ very loudly . . .

Still, nothing worked.

“But it’s the night before Christmas!” wailed Daddy Bear.

“He hasn’t been to the Back of Beyond yet!”

“The children won’t get their presents!” wailed Mummy Bear.

“Don’t panic,” said Baby Bear calmly. And she picked up the phone.

Surprisingly soon, there was a knock at the door . . .

“Hello, is that the Fairy-Tale Rescue Rangers? We need help and we need it now!”