Reading Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas In Wales is a holiday tradition for many. The story's lush evocation of sights, sounds, smells and tastes of his childhood experience gives one a sense of being there among the cats and the snow, rhum tea and butterwelsh, dodgy Uncles and elderberry wine.

I am such a fan of the book that each year I delight in buying it, giving it a pre-love read and then wrapping it up and gifting it to a friend or family member. Last year I gave it to my sister Lani who read it on her flight home and immediately wrote me to sing its praises.

Can't think of many things finer than listening to Dylan read it himself and it looks like some of the old lps (image above) are kicking around on ebay!

For a quick feel of the story's charm, click here. Of course, I urge all to buy the book -- or the album!