Author Archives: Charlotte Sebag-Montefiore

When I was a baby boycradled in the water,someone robed came down to batheit was the Pharaoh’s daughter. She sought a cleaner, purer pathshe hated palace ways.She wanted to renew herself,live simply all her days. “Oh look,” she said, “right over therea charming little boat.It must have something in itfor it’s low, but stays afloat.”Continue reading “Moses and the Bulrushes”

Sun and Wind spied a traveller….

You don’t like me – even my beautiful fur, which is so warm, is out of fashion! Some of you people don’t like me because I kill animals, wild animals like rabbits, but also your animals. As many as possible. I can always hide them for later. You never know. This evening, I went huntingContinue reading “A Day in my Life (I’m a fox)”

My name is John. When I was a boy, I lived in the Auvergne, high up in the hills in the middle of France.  The winters were very cold. We didn’t have central heating, nobody did, –  for this was a long time ago. The winters were such fun. In the long evenings, we usedContinue reading “The Sledge”

The Norse gods live in Asgard. All of them, with the exception of Odin, are young, beautiful and handsome. Odin is the exception as he has a long beard, (he would look much younger if he shaved it off.) But none of the gods shave, maybe because they all look too young to grow aContinue reading “Idun and the Golden Apples”

Last year, Santa left Runt with a peasant family. The father wanted to kill and salt him, to provide meat in the winter, but the children cried and cried… Their mother had another idea – she wanted the children to look after Runt and train him to give rides which other children would pay for.Continue reading “Runt and What Happened Next”

Running is no earthly use,this tale will clearly show.Unless you’re up and leave on timeand have the oomph to go! Miss Tortoise and our Mr Hareonce set out on a race.“I think I’ll win,” Miss Tortoise saidI think I’ll get first place.” “You’re barking mad,” said Mr Hare.“Dear girl, you must be ill.If you’re unwell,Continue reading “The Tortoise and The Hare”

(Four nights before Hallowe’en) Some witches really like the lighta full and shining moon.They dance and hop with piercing shrieksHallowe’en is soon! Others really like the dark.A starless night brings fear.The witches are a-stir at last,Hallowe’en is here! People like a barbecue.a picnic out at night.For that, it’s better if the moonis clear and shiningContinue reading “Rhyming Hallowe’en Poems for You”

My name is Mary. I am the youngest. I have four brothers, and we live in a smallholding, a very small holding, on the edge of the woods high up in the hills. My Dadhas a good job as a stonemason, and Mum is very proud of this. Other people in the village are inContinue reading “My Teacher”

No animal of any sort can live without water. Perhaps that’s why life started in the water. And perhaps that’s why a lot of people love the water and like to live near a sea, a lake, or a river. This is a story about an octopus, a dolphin, a jellyfish, a lobster and aContinue reading “The octopus, dolphin, jellyfish, lobster and The Boy”