Evaleen Stein

Karen is a little girl who lives with her grandmother in the Flemish city of Bruges, where at Christmas time children set their little shoes on the hearth and these they expect the Christ-child himself to fill with gifts. One Christmas, Karen decides that she wants to give a present to a Christ-child because it's unfair that he doesn't get any. She goes out with her grandmother and buys an earthenware porringer which gets stolen by a notorious Bruges thief Han, only to serve as a fine set up for a Christmas miracle.

This magical tale follows the life of Pepin, a peasant lad of Medieval France, and circles around the twelfth day after Christmas (the Feast of the Three Kings) as his story unfolds. Raised by his grandfather after the death of his parents, Pepin lives quietly and industriously in a small hut by the edge of the forest. From his grandfather, Pepin learns the story of the wicked duke, Gundebold the Wolf, and learns, too, a consistent generosity that guides him through the twists and turns of his own growing up. A generosity that Pepin will need as the story progresses Beautifully crafted, and subtly told, this tale will make a welcome addition to any child's bookshelf

An earthenware porringer, bought by a little Flemish girl of Bruges as a gift for the Christ child and stolen by Robber Hans, finally brings much happiness to her and her grandmother, the lace maker.

An earthenware porringer, bought by a little Flemish girl of Bruges as a gift for the Christ child and stolen by Robber Hans, finally brings much happiness to her and her grandmother, the lace maker.