New for Christmas 2026 · Ages 3–10
Hamish the Wee Christmas Tree
One mixed-up label. Ten years at sea. Seven Wonders of the World! A wee Scots pine from the far north of Scotland sees the whole wide world before he finds his way home for Christmas.
By Ken Trevena, the Umpteenth Laird of Camster. Illustrated in full colour throughout, and in the Story & Colouring Book every picture has its own colour-in page.
A Scottish Christmas adventure around the world
From Rumster Forest to the far side of the world
Hamish is a wee Scots pine from Rumster Forest in Caithness, with soft blue-green needles and a head full of dreams. One frosty December morning the foresters choose him to be the Christmas tree at the Fishermen’s Mission in Greenock.
But at the Tail of the Bank a gust of wind flips his label, and Hamish is swung aboard the steamship SS Salween, bound for Rangoon. With his kind friend Angus, the ginger-bearded ship’s steward, he sets off on a ten-year voyage around the world.
Along the way children learn real facts about each of the New Seven Wonders, from Shah Jahan’s gift of love to the 365 steps of the Maya pyramid, wrapped in a warm Scottish story about friendship, promises and coming home.
| Where Hamish goes |
|---|
| India: The Taj Mahal, glowing pink in the sunrise |
| China: The Great Wall, wriggling over the mountains like a sleeping stone dragon |
| Jordan: Petra, a whole city carved into the rose-pink cliffs |
| Italy: The Colosseum, and a cheeky Roman pigeon |
| Brazil: Christ the Redeemer, giving Rio a hug |
| Peru: Machu Picchu, a secret city in the clouds, and a curious llama |
| Mexico: Chichén Itzá, where a clap echoes like a bird |
A page from the book
The mixed-up label
At the Tail of the Bank in Greenock, great ocean liners lay at anchor, puffing smoke into the winter sky. Dockers hurried everywhere with crates, trunks and parcels.
Hamish’s pot had a label that said FISHERMEN’S MISSION. But in all the bustle, a gust of wind flipped it over, and a busy docker read the label on the crate beside him instead: SS SALWEEN, RANGOON.
“Up you go, wee tree!” he called, and Hamish was swung high into the air by a crane!
To find out where the Salween takes him, and whether Angus keeps his promise to bring Hamish home, you will have to read the book.
The Voyage
Hamish and Angus sail around the world to all Seven Wonders. Here are some of the pictures from the book.
All aboard the SS Salween
Angus finds a Christmas tree for the ship’s lounge
Christmas at sea
Paper stars, tinsel and the golden Shwedagon Pagoda
The Taj Mahal
A palace made of moonlight
The Great Wall of China
Snow on the watchtowers, just like home
Petra
A building made from a mountain
The Colosseum
“Buongiorno!” cooed the pigeon
Christ the Redeemer
Tinsel on the beach for a sunny Christmas
Machu Picchu
“Don’t eat me! I’m a Christmas tree!”
Chichén Itzá
Clap your hands… CHIRP!
The last pages, where Hamish finally reaches home, are kept as a surprise for Christmas Eve.
The Story & Colouring Book
Read it, then colour it!
In the Story & Colouring Book every illustrated story page has its own colour-in picture on the facing page, so children can read about the Taj Mahal and then make it their own.
It is 40 pages, at a big 8.5 × 11 inch size that is easy to colour, and it makes a lovely Christmas Eve box or stocking present.
Choose your edition
All three tell the same story with the same pictures. The colouring edition adds a colour-in page for every picture, and the Kindle edition can be sent in an instant.
Best for gifting
Story & Colouring Book
£8.99
- Large 8.5 × 11 in paperback
- 40 pages
- A colour-in picture opposite every story page
Best for bedtime
Story book
£7.99
- Large 8.5 × 11 in paperback
- 24 pages in full colour
- Big pictures to share at bedtime
Instant delivery
Kindle
£3.99
- Fixed-layout ebook
- Every picture included
- Read it with Kindle+
“The world is very big indeed… but there’s no place like home.”
Hamish, whispering to the stars every Christmas