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The Hoity Toity Angel - from Musical to Story Book
Published in 2002, The Hoity Toity Angel is one of Grumpy Sheep Music's all time favourite Christmas musicals for primary school children. This month sees the popular musical being published as an illustrated story book. Children's songwriter and founder of Grumpy Sheep Music, Caroline Hoile tells us what motivated her to write the story.
I wrote the Hoity-Toity Angel musical - from which this illustrated story book emanates, way back in 2002. Why did you write it? I was asked.
It's now 2019 - and why I initially thought of writing it, has, by now, completely evaded me! What was the trigger for writing the Hoity-Toity? I asked my family. 'Emily' - they all replied in one voice. Emily is my eldest daughter, then a small child. Truthfully, I don't recall that connection. Maybe a toddler tantrum got me thinking? My stories usually come out of real life events.
Wisely, or not, I do, however, generally keep every last bit of paper I write on - and amazingly have come across the very start of my musings on the Hoity-Toity Angel story. My piece of paper queries - one Hoity-Toity Angel - or perhaps three? (It turns out, one cantankerous angel was quite enough to deal with!) 'Wants the glamour' my piece of paper tells me, 'can't possibly sing in a stable.' But then the notes go on to say, 'not to be proud,' and 'looks not important' and 'everyone equal' and 'got to do what is right and good' and 'all to be treated the same.'
So there you have it. The message from the Hoity-Toity angel story is that it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside. What's really important is how you actually are on the inside. And it's so relevant today.
Which still leaves me a little perplexed as to why my eldest daughter should (apparently) have been a catalyst for this story, as, to a doting mum, she was quite obviously beautiful inside and out!
Caroline Hoile is a children's songwriter and the founder of Grumpy Sheep Music. She supplies musicals, Christmas nativities and songbooks to thousands of primary schools, nurseries, church and theatre groups throughout the UK and abroad.
When Gabriel appears to Mary, the Hoity-Toity Angel is not at all impressed - Mary is not even a princess! And how can a king be born in a scruffy and smelly stable? Follow the Hoity-Toity Angel through the events of the Christmas story as she discovers that it's what's on the inside that counts.
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