Green Greta is the author of the year

TEENAGE environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has been named Waterstones’ author of the year for her first book, No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference.

The 16-year-old activist’s work, published in May, is a collection of her speeches about climate change.

The British book retailer also chose

Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse as its book of the year, beating The Testaments by Margaret Atwood and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.

Miss Atwood’s book was named joint winner of this year’s Booker Prize. A cookery book, Dishoom, and a picture-book retelling of Charles

Darwin’s On The Origin Of Species also featured in the 11-strong shortlist.

Miss Thunberg was nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize after spearheading a global movement demanding world leaders take action over climate change. It led to school strikes across the globe.

IT is a tale that has captivated the imaginations of youngsters for more than four decades.

Now The Snowman has officially been named Scotland’s most loved Christmas read.

Almost a third of Scots voted for the picture book by Raymond Briggs, first published in 1978, in a poll to find the nation’s favourite festive title.

The survey was commissioned by the Scottish Book Trust and quizzed 1,000 people, including 500 parents of children aged 12 or under.

A total of 29.8 per cent of respondents chose The Snowman as their favourite Christmas read.

The poll also found that more than 80 per cent of parents agree that reading ‘helps them to bond’ with their children.

The findings coincide with the trust’s launch of its first festive fundraising appeal, to provide books and support for teenage parents.

The charity’s Marc Lambert said: ‘It’s very fitting that a children’s picture book has topped our nationwide poll of Christmas books. This underlines how

‘Enjoying a story together’

important books and sharing stories are to us all, in childhood and as parents or carers.

‘Sharing stories is one of the best ways for parents to bond with their babies from the earliest moments. We are appealing to people to support our mission by donating £5 to give the gift of reading this Christmas and ensure no baby misses out.’

Author Julia Donaldson, 71 – whose Stickman book reached number five on the list – said: ‘It’s lovely to think of a whole new generation of parents and children across Scotland enjoying the story together. If you are able to support this campaign with £5, you could really make a difference.’

The Snowman was turned into a Bafta-winning wordless animated film in 1982. It has been shown on

Channel 4 over the Christmas period every year since, and the film ranks at number 71 in the list of the 100 greatest British television programmes compiled by the British Film Institute in 2000.

There are also a number of introductions to the television adaptation, including one by Mr Briggs and one by David Bowie. The late singer stars as the young boy years later, wearing the scarf given to him by the snowman.

A theatre production is also running for the 22nd time.

Such is the popularity of The Snowman that it was celebrated by the Royal Mint this year through the release of three limited edition coins, each featuring characters from the book.

But the lasting admiration for the title has become a cross to bear for its author, with Briggs saying it should never have become a festive favourite. Highlighting

that the story was not originally about Christmas, he told the Guardian in 2016: ‘I don’t like the Christmas thing at all. It’s so full of anxiety.

‘Have I got enough stuff? Where am I going to go? What should I get for presents?’

He also described the film adaptation of his story as ‘corny’, adding: ‘I don’t actually know much about children. I try to avoid them whenever possible.’