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.
Papa Panov is the story of an old shoemaker who spent the day waiting for a special person to come and visit him. He found the best pair of tiny leather shoes that he had ever made. That's what he would give as a present.
He made the fire burn brightly, the room was warm and cosy. It was Christmas Eve
But on Christmas Day he had lots of visitors, never quite who he expected. First there was the old road sweeper, then a young mother with a tiny baby. He asked them inside, gave them a hot drink and the best pair of shoes that he ever made were just right for the tiny baby.
And still the special person never came. Papa Panov sat on his chair, 'Dearie Dearie' he said, it must have been only a dream. And two big tears welled up inside his eyes.
At once it seemed as if there was someone in the room.
'Didn't you see me Papa Panov?'
I was hungry and you fed me. I was cold and you made me warm.
'Dearie, dearie', said Papa Panov. 'So He came after all' and slowly the smile came back to his face.
It can be adapted as a school play and there are other sites , such as Bethany Roberts, that have the story retold too.
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