Real stories · The advent calendar that beat the chocolate ones

My granddaughter is capybara-mad — this advent calendar made me the most popular grandma in York

The advent calendar that beat the chocolate ones — I didn't see that coming. I'm 67, and for years my December job as a grandma has been simple: buy the chocolate calendar, watch it be demolished by the 6th, forgotten by the 10th. Meanwhile my granddaughter has entered her capybara phase, which her mother assures me is 'not a phase'.

What I wanted was an advent calendar that lasted past the first week — and scored me proper grandma points.

Then I found the Corvinor from a British label called York Boutique — a capybara advent calendar, a lovely green and gold box that looks like a storybook and stands up on the mantelpiece by itself.

Here's how it actually works, because I'd want to know: behind each of the 24 doors is a little capybara ornament — flat, printed on sturdy card, with a loop to hang it in the tree. Not 3D figurines, and honestly that's the charm of it: each one is a little character — a chef, an astronaut, a detective with a magnifying glass — which is why the calendar becomes part of the decorating. One capybara goes in the tree each morning, and by Christmas Eve there's a full cast of 24 hanging among the baubles. The box itself is a neat 26 by 18 centimetres, so it sits happily on a mantelpiece or windowsill.

Behind every door is a little printed capybara ornament to hang in the tree — a chef, an astronaut, a detective — so by Christmas Eve the tree has a full cast of 24, and the calendar has become the decorating.

We started ours early as a trial run, and the detective capybara caused genuine scenes of joy. My granddaughter now inspects the tree each visit and introduces the new arrival to Winnie, our dog, who remains unmoved. Malcolm has picked a favourite (the astronaut), which tells you everything about how these things go.

It was £24.95 in the sale, half the usual £50 — and I'd checked I could send it back if it looked cheap in real life, which you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free. It's a limited Christmas release, so it's not one to leave until December.

If there's a capybara-mad child in your life — or you simply want an advent calendar that outlasts chocolate — do treat yourself to a look. The Corvinor is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 210 buyers, it's £24.95 in the sale instead of £50 — half price — and limited releases like this genuinely do sell out before December.