Blog Archives
Teddy Bears Need To Talk
Christmas Land follows a young girl who wakes up in a magical land filled with talking animals to go on an adventure to save the kingdom. What was the inspiration for your story?
It was very late one night. It was late November or early December. My daughter was in bed with us and wanted me to tell her story before bed, and it needed to feature her favorite stuffy “Pink Teddy” and our matching necklaces. I started my story, and in that instance, I knew I wanted real-life elements and magical beings. Moments before, we talked about how much we loved Christmas, the feeling you get, how everyone is friendly, and how everything feels possible around Christmas. I knew I wanted our story to take place where things felt possible. My daughter loves cupcakes and was instrumental in adding them throughout the story. For me, it’s all about the peppermint and what the smell can invoke around the holidays. (Davina) Don’t forget teddy bears need to talk!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Eleonora Cali?
Eleonora is amazing. The first time she read through the story and sent me her outline, she immediately visualized the characters as they had been in our minds. She is based in Italy, and I loved how she was always there to answer questions and didn’t mind when a six-year-old provided suggestions or improvements. She is a very accomplished illustrator.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
When we read or watch a movie, when a problem arises, the immediate response is to fight, hit, and inflict damage. We wanted the character to solve problems without fighting a war. We wanted an intelligent, caring leader who solved problems but enjoyed life a long way and thought about others. I knew I wanted something where that was different.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
We are working on Christmas Land 2 and hope it will be available by next September.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Enjoy a visit to Christmas Land any time of year, for it’s not a seasonal place, but one where you can find the Christmas feeling year round.
Christmas Land
A young girl wakes up to the sweetest of dreams. She is in a forest with talking animals and smells like peppermint sticks. There is a gingerbread woman decorating cupcakes nearby that is waving her over to join them. Davina realizes she is not in a dream and this magical world she is exploring is real. She has arrived in the magical Christmas Land that her mother has told her stories about all her life. What her mother hasn’t told her, though, was Christmas Land is currently ruled by an evil knight. Can Davina remember the things her mom told her and use that information to save Christmas Land?
Authors Amber and Davina Bernardi-Kim have written a magical children’s story. Christmas Land takes children on an adventure to save the kingdom from evil and does so in a surprising way. The settings are well written, and readers can imagine themself in each new scene even without the amazing illustrations of Eleonora Cali. The characters have depth, which was surprising to find in a children’s book. It is not so deep that smaller children will miss the message; rather, it is presented in a way that accentuates their personality traits.
Christmas Land is a magical children’s book that teaches children about honesty, perseverance, and standing up for what is right. This storybook would make a great holiday addition to read with families or classes to prepare for the holiday season.
Pages: 46 | ASIN : B0BLTJ7M9D
LITERARY TITAN 