This post is the second installment in a series of seven December recommendations drawn from biblical studies and twentieth-century fiction. Each day’s pick is something I enjoy that relates to Christmas and that I think others will find helpful or interesting.
The Second Read of Christmas
The Little Steamroller
Several months ago, I posted a list ranking my favorite Graham Greene novels. What many readers might not know is that Greene also wrote four children’s books, each one illustrated by Edward Ardizzone.
One of these books, The Little Steamroller, is a Christmas tale about a humble steamroller who earns respect and admiration by saving the day.
One Christmas Eve, Mr. King, the cleverest member of the infamous Black Hand Gang, arrives in London by air with gold smuggled from Africa. One of Mr. King’s papers, containing a secret code, is whisked away by the wind and ends up stuck beneath the Little Steamroller. Just as Mr. King prepares to make his getaway, the Little Steamroller charges forward and collides with his car. When the police respond to the crash, they discover Mr. King’s smuggled gold.
In the end, the Little Steamroller receives a medal for his bravery.
Though The Little Steamroller is a picture book written for kids, the story follows Greene’s typical recipe: an overlooked individual unexpectedly thwarts the plans of a dangerous and clever villain through bold and reckless action.
Greene wrote four children’s books. You can purchase them on Amazon or read them for free on Archive.org.
Amazon Links
Archive.org Links
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