Christmas story for kids: Father Christmas's lost mitten

Father Christmas has a pair of red mittens. Thick, woolly mittens with a white snowflake on the back. Mrs Christmas knitted them for him, a long time ago, and he loves them very much.

But one morning, when Father Christmas wanted to go out to the reindeer, there was only one mitten on the hook.

"Pip!" called Father Christmas. "Have you seen my other mitten?"

Pip the elf came running, his hat bell jingling. "Your red mitten? With the snowflake?"

"That's the one," said Father Christmas. "My left hand is getting chilly just thinking about it."

"Don't worry," said Pip. "We'll find it."

In the kitchen

First they looked in the kitchen. Under the table, nothing but crumbs. In the bread bin, nothing but bread. In the oven...

"Not in the oven," said Father Christmas quickly. "Mittens and ovens are not friends."

Pip opened the fridge, just to be sure. Milk, butter, a jar of jam. No mitten.

In the workshop

Next they looked in the workshop. The elves stopped what they were doing and helped.

One elf looked inside a big box of wooden blocks. One elf looked behind the paint pots. One elf even looked inside a teddy bear that was still waiting for its stuffing.

"Here!" shouted an elf. "Something red and woolly!"

Everyone ran over. But it was not a mitten. It was a red sock, waiting for its partner.

"Well, at least that sock is happy," said Father Christmas.

In the stable

Then they went to the reindeer stable. The reindeer were munching hay.

"Excuse me," said Pip politely. "Has anyone seen a red mitten?"

The reindeer looked at each other. Then the smallest reindeer, a young one with fluffy ears, lowered her head shyly.

Under her straw bed, something red was sticking out.

Pip pulled. Out came... the mitten! A bit damp, a bit squashed, and covered in pieces of straw.

Why the mitten was there

"So that's where it went," said Father Christmas. He crouched down next to the little reindeer. "Did you take my mitten?"

The reindeer nodded and nuzzled his hand.

"I think I know why," said Pip. "Yesterday, when you brushed her, you put your mittens down on the straw. And it smelled like you. She wanted something that smelled like Father Christmas to sleep with."

Father Christmas's eyes grew soft and twinkly.

"Well," he said. "That is the nicest reason anyone has ever had for borrowing a mitten."

A plan

Father Christmas could not go out with only one mitten, and the little reindeer did not want to give up her treasure.

So Pip had an idea. He ran to the house and came back with an old red scarf of Father Christmas's. It was a bit worn at the ends, and it smelled of cinnamon, hot chocolate and Father Christmas.

He folded it into a soft little nest in the straw. The little reindeer sniffed it, turned around three times and lay down on it with a happy sigh.

"There," said Pip, and he handed back the mitten.

Father Christmas brushed off the straw and pulled the mitten on. His left hand was warm again at last.

"Thank you, Pip," he said. "You are the best finder at the North Pole."

And from that day on, whenever Father Christmas went to the stable, the little reindeer came trotting over. Just to say hello.

Things to do together

Where did Pip and Father Christmas look for the mitten?
Why did the little reindeer keep the mitten?
Do you have something soft that you like to sleep with? What does it smell like?