The Big Give: Christmas Challenge Blind Auction

As part of our Christmas Challenge fundraising we're auctioning off a rare Christmas read by Russell Hoban. Find out how to get you hands on this little-known Christmas classic!

According to Jane Davis, The Reader's Founder and Director, The Mole Family's Christmas by Russell Hoban, with pictures by Lillian Hoban, is "the best Christmas children's picture book ever written." It's a little-known Christmas classic that has a small following of devoted readers with fond memories of enjoying it every December.

Unfortunately it's now out of print and copies sometimes sell  on Amazon and eBay for over £100! (Sometimes not...) As part of our Big Give Christmas Challenge we have a copy to include in a blind auction. The donor who pledges the most and donates before the DOUBLE YOUR DONATION window closes on Friday at 12noon will receive a copy as a thank you.

Not only will your donation go towards helping socially isolated older people, but you will also receive the perfect Christmas present for any little readers in your life.

If you'd like to take part, email your bid and a contact telephone number to martingallagher@thereader.org.uk by 3pm on Thursday 1 December. The highest bidder will be contacted with details of how they can make their donation and claim the copy.

"There's no telling what that boy might do when he puts his mind to something," said Delver the Mole's father. And Delver wanted to find out about Christmas - and discover how to see the stars."

Don't just take our word for it though, here's some thoughts from goodreads.com

★★★★★ "One of my favorite books from when I was a child. We read this every Christmas."  Cindy

★★★★ "A nice holiday gem lost to the sands of time. They just don't make Christmas books like they used to!" Jeremy

★★★★★ "Near and dear to my heart, I have loved this book since I was a little girl. I still treasure my original copy." Suzanne

Find out more about The Big Give's Christmas Challenge

CAN YOU HELP US RAISE £40,000 THIS CHRISTMAS?

In the UK today, 1 million older people will go a month without speaking to anyone. We need your help to support older people experiencing loneliness.

This year, The Reader is taking part in The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge, an incredible opportunity to raise £40,000 to support older people through Shared Reading.

But we need your help.