Zog and the Flying Doctors

For Christmas 2020, Scholastic has worked with staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) on the UK’s number one picture book pair Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler for a timely celebration of doctors, nurses, carers and hospital staff. Julia and Axel’s bestselling book Zog and the Flying Doctors will be the latest animated film from Magic Light Pictures that will premiere on BBC One on Christmas Day. Together with Axel Scheffler, Julia Donaldson and her husband Malcolm (a children’s doctor himself!) the staff at GOSH have created a unique reading of the story to celebrate all the people who play important roles in caring for patients.

GOSH Charity's ‘Home for Christmas’campaign highlights how staff at GOSH work round the clock to deliver lifesaving care to seriously ill children, so that they can get home to their families. For patients whose treatment has to continue over the festive season, staff make the hospital a home from home at Christmas. For patients and their families, sharing stories can be a powerful bridge between life at home and time spent in hospital. Stories can provide much-needed comfort and relief during challenging times and – importantly – can provide escapism into different worlds with wonderful characters. This Christmas, families can both share the story of Zog and the Flying Doctors on the page and on screen with the new animation starring Sir Lenny Henry, Rob Brydon, Patsy Ferran and Hugh Skinner.

Featuring Princess Pearl, Sir Gadabout and Zog the dragon, the modern classic story sees the flying doctors travel the land helping others including a mermaid, unicorn, lion and even the king. The reading by staff at GOSH will both share a special story and also shine a light on the number of people across the hospital who play vital roles in caring for children.