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This Has Been A Mind-blowing Journey
Christmas Begins with Christ is a beautiful picture book explaining the meaning of Christmas and the role that Christ plays in the season. What was the inspiration for your story?
It’s a wild backstory. I wrote this book last year when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I was determined to write an adult fantasy trilogy that I’d plotted, but life got in the way. I was moving out of state, juggling a toddler, pregnant, and knew I had many sleepless nights ahead of me. I had to shelve the series in my head that I desperately wanted to put on a bookshelf. It crushed my soul a little bit.
So one night I said a prayer to Jesus asking for help with my writing aspirations. Apparently He heard me, because out of nowhere an idea for a picture book fell into my head upon waking up from a pregnant-woman nap. The story was about Him.
I asked, and He definitely answered. I didn’t have time to write an adult novel, but I could write a poem for kids.
I never set out to become a children’s book author, so this has been a mind-blowing journey for me. I’m incredibly grateful that my prayer was answered in the most unexpected way.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
There were three key points I wanted to teach kids. The first is that even though you can’t see Jesus, He’s always with us. I’ve seen a lot of children’s books insert Jesus physically alongside kids into a modern-day scene. I wanted to have a more realistic depiction. I emphasized that Jesus is invisible, but we can still feel Him, talk to Him, and see His guidance.
The second educational aspect was to teach that Jesus’s love lives in us. When we share our love through acts of kindness, it creates a ripple effect of joy.
That segues into my third teaching point, which was incorporating counting to ten. Using numbers was a simple way to demonstrate how love grows.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Marissa Napolitano?
We talked in-depth on the phone about my vision for the book before she started illustrating. It was important for me to represent Jesus’s presence through the usage of light. It’s one of the main reasons why I chose her to be my illustrator. I thought she was incredibly gifted at drawing light that looked divine and otherworldly.
I sent her a document in the beginning of the project with art notes for each page to communicate what I envisioned. If I didn’t have a specific idea, I gave her a generalized concept and let her run with it. Often I would draw detailed, ugly sketches of what I wanted and emailed them to her. She always turned it into something magical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing another rhyming book about Jesus for children that I’m extremely excited about. It’s not a holiday book, so you can read it any time of the year. Without giving too much away, the theme is to “let go, let God” and trust in His plan. What excites me the most is that it hasn’t been done before and has the potential to impact both children and adults.
I can’t wait to get it illustrated! Hopefully I’ll publish it in the fall of 2023 or early 2024. I also plan to write my adult fantasy series. It’s alive and breathing in my head, so I have to write it. That will definitely take me longer, but I’m determined to do it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Website
This rhyming concept book introduces how Jesus is always in our lives. Beautiful illustrations show Christ’s supportive spiritual light around us. When we share God’s light through acts of love and joy, it creates a ripple effect. Children will learn their numbers by counting how happiness grows from the true spirit of Christmas.
Both children and adults are reminded through lyrical prose to pause and connect with Jesus. Christmas Begins With Christ is the perfect gift for the holiday season that’s sure to inspire families for years to come.
Christmas Begins With Christ
Have you ever wondered what Christmas was all about? Why do we get presents and celebrate with our loved ones? In Christmas Begins with Christ by Gina Kirkland, we are taken on a beautifully magical explanation of the meaning of Christmas. The story is told through poetic prose and charms you quite thoroughly from your head to your toes.
The author does a splendid job incorporating the Christian faith along with other non-religious traditions that all play along in the celebration of Christmas. The illustrations by Marissa Napolitano are so magical and whimsical that, as an avid reader, I found it hard to turn the page. The characters and backgrounds were awe-inspiringly gorgeous and added to the rhythmic tone of the author’s words.
This is a perfect story not just for young readers but adults as well. It truly felt like Christmas to me, and it would be a great addition to my own family’s holiday reading library to get us in the spirit. The dedications from the author to her family were tear-worthy and left me blurry-eyed before I even started the story. I am so glad she was motivated to write this book because it was simply meant to be. It’s like when you read an amazing book and just know it was fated to be written, and you can’t stop recommending it. This is one of those books. It was dazzling from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books from this author and undoubtedly adding them to my family’s reading library.
Christmas Begins with Christ is a magical Christian-based picture book teaching children about the meaning of Christmas. This educational story will entertain and enlighten young children as they follow along through the pages.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0BD7C5QRJ
Family Guide to Celebration of the Jewish Holidays
Family Guide To Celebration Of The Jewish Holidays is an informative book that educates readers on Jewish holidays, providing ample details to provide a full understanding and appreciation for the holidays. The author provides an overview while also sharing intimate details and comprehensive information about Jewish history and holidays as well as Jewish culture. All of the information is easy to understand, which helps readers at any level grasp the importance of these holidays.
The authors details Jewish holidays which include Sabbath, Passover Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Hannukah, Tu Bi-Shevat (Hamishah Asar Bi-Shevat), Purim, and Tishah Be-Av, Yom Ha-Shoah, and Yom Ha-Atzma-ut. This may seem like a lot, but the text is organized in a way that makes each of these sections easily identifiable and accessible, which helped me to easily go to certain holidays that I was interested in. Every chapter on the holidays discusses the background, celebration, and themes of the holidays.
Leonard and Linda Chesler make learning about Judaism and the relationship Jewish folk have with God seem fascinating. The authors include biblical references throughout the text, and I appreciated how they were scriptures readers would be familiar with. Leonard and Linda Chesler also discuss family values, a subject that I thoroughly enjoyed. Reading this book was a wholesome experience thanks to how inclusive the authors are. I also enjoyed how the authors briefly delve into their life, as I thought it made the book feel more personal. After reading this book I am more intrigued by Judaism and Jewish traditions and customs. I think this is because Leonard and Linda Chesler’s superb writing has shown me the beauty in these traditions.
I recommend Family Guide To Celebration Of The Jewish Holidays to readers who want to learn about Jewish holidays, or to anyone who is interested in learning more about Jewish culture. I learned that there is pride in having an identity and that every culture matters. In addition, there is pride in being close with family and friends, and spreading love and unity. Family Guide To Celebration Of The Jewish Holidays is an enlightening book on Jewish history.
Pages: 82 | ASIN: B0792YWGHY
I Found It Just As Interesting
Ships, Sleighs and Christmas Lights tells the story of how a young boy from Patara grew into the man we now think of as Saint Nicholas. What inspired you to write this story?
There are many wonderful things about gift-giving at Christmas time but for Christians who celebrate the holiday, it can be tricky separating the commercial from the spiritual. I have friends who want to embrace the fun of the season with their children, while making them aware of the historical figures associated with Christmas. I wrote the book with them in mind. Having researched Nikolaos’ life, I found it just as interesting as some of the fantasy stories about Santa Claus.
What were some of the challenges you had moving from being an illustrator to an author and illustrator?
I am used to complimenting an author’s words with illustrations so owning both aspects of picture book storytelling was a new experience for me. An outline of the story came first, then I sketched some of the key scenes. I worked with an editor before I started drawing, so the text was finalised and I knew how much space would be needed in the layout for the illustrations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Nikolaos is recognised as a saint. I wanted to explore ways in which his upbringing shaped his beliefs. Not everyone will relate to him in this way but I’d like to think the book will be of interest to people with different beliefs too. Much of the book is about culture and the ways in which we influence one another (hopefully for the better). Although our clothes and countries of origin may appear to be different, people are always drawn to goodness.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
There were so many legends about Saint Nicholas to draw on and some were only hinted at in Christmas Lights. I am writing a story about three young girls whose father fell on hard times. Nikolaos allegedly provided the family with special gifts but I wanted to tell the story from the girls’ perspective so they have a sense of agency. Most girls work hard but are not given opportunities or rewards. I’d like to think a privileged man like Nikolaos would address such imbalances. I hope to publish it in time for Christmas 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Ships, Sleighs and Christmas Lights
This stunning picture book captures the spirit of Christmas even if told from a perspective most have never heard of. Based off of the biblical story of Saint Nicholaos, the author intertwines how other cultures have added their twist to the story to lead it to the familiar story of a red suit and hat with reindeer.
Young Nikolaos was raised in Patara, a shipping town where he was taught to pray and about the life of Jesus and God. Inspired by the stories of Jesus, Nikolaos traveled to Jerusalem to visit all the places he learned of. He embodied the spirit of Jesus by giving all he could to those less fortunate than himself. When he was returning home his ship ran into a bad storm and he prayed that they would return to land safely. His faith and kindness are examples of where the spirit of the modern Saint Nick comes from. Saint Nikolaos was known for leaving gifts outside children’s windows, or just handing out things that they needed as he could. The tradition of gift-giving was started as a means to show kindness and help each other.
This picture book will entertain young readers and give them a historical perspective without dampening the excitement of the holiday season. This thought-provoking children’s book allows children to see that different cultures believe different versions of the same story. Captivating illustrations accompany the narrative and make for an engaging experience.
Ships, Sleighs and Christmas Lights: The Origins of Saint Nicholas is a delightful picture book that religious educators and families can all enjoy around the holiday season. It focuses on the meaning of Christmas and not the commercialization of the day. The historical fiction in this children’s book is a great conversation starter as well for what life was like in the fourth century.
Pages: 44 | ASIN : B09M3QXBLB
The Tale of the Christmas Hero
Santa’s reindeer are very busy on Christmas Eve delivering presents to all the children. But when the reindeer decide to take a break and chase a field mouse for fun they bring about a near Christmas disaster. Luckily the field mouse they were chasing knows someone that can help them out of their jam and get Christmas back on track.
This is a charming children’s book that is an absolute joy to read. This book fits right into the cheery holiday theme of the season. The reindeer, and mouse, are so lively and animated throughout the story that their antics are sure to keep any child’s attention.
Right when I figured out this was going to be a story about reindeer getting into mischief, I knew I was going to enjoy this story, and the amusing antics delivered a lot of entertainment. Each scene has a fantastic illustration from illustrator Brenda Timms. Each image has a soft color palette and looks like they were colored with crayon, which makes them easily relatable to children.
This delightful picture book is told in fun rhymes that add color and character to the story being acted out on each page. The rhymes are cute and easy to follow, with a few big words here and there young readers should have an easy time reading this story with an adult.
The Tale of the Christmas Hero is a whimsical Christmas book that will delight kids this holiday season. With lovable and emotive characters taking readers on an amusing chase that ends in a cheesy reward, family’s will surely enjoy this entertaining book.
Pages: 36 | ISBN: 1643613502
‘Twas the Night: Christmas dream-like story
!['Twas the Night: Christmas dream-like story (2GETHER picture book collection 5) by [Marin Darmonkow]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51X9uwws3YL.jpg)
‘Twas the Night follows a young boy through city streets where he finds an injured bird and decides to nurse it back to health. When the bird is healthy enough to fly and takes off out the window, something absolutely magical happens.
This charming children’s story is told completely through images. No words. The first scene we come across is a little boy in a wheelchair on an empty city street finding an injured bird on the sidewalk. My heart ached when I saw this image. The emotions were palpable and I could easily sense what was going on in the scene. No words needed.
This is a picture book that truly lives up to the saying, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. I loved the images in this book. Each is a real image with a rotoscope type art style that gives this story great depth and builds on the surreal nature of the dark and lonely city streets which feel enchanting because of the inclusion of Christmas trees and various lights that bespeckle the pages.
‘Twas the Night tells a beautiful holiday story that inspires the imagination. With other children’s books I find that I’m focused on reading the story to my child. But this book felt much more interactive because me and my child sat together and discussed our thoughts and emotions on each scene. Readers looking for a unique reading experience will find a treat with Marin Darmonkow’s picture book.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B08NWQP9CV
The True Spirit Of Christmas
“Entre Duendes y Ratones” is an enchanting Christmas story for young readers. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
“Entre Duendes Y Ratones” came about in South America, back in 1999. One of my sisters needed to put on a Christmas play with her elementary school students, and she asked me to come up with a storyline. At the time, we printed a few booklets mostly to complement the performance, after which the adventures of my elves and mice were sort of forgotten. But now that, Benjamin, Pablo, and company, have been spruced up and refreshed with new artwork, I’m excited to formally introduce them to a wider new audience.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful. What was the art development process like for this picture book?
I was thrilled to connect with CenkiStudios to refresh “Entre Duendes Y Ratones.” They were a pleasure to work with—only a handful of virtual meetings were needed to discuss the scenes in the book I wanted to bring to life, and this very talented and receptive group delivered in no time!
CenkiStudios was founded in November of 2020 by Whimcifer, a digital artist, animator, and voice actor. Under his direction, the team works on an assortment of projects, including books, comics, and graphic novels. Each member of the team specializes in different creative work, such as illustration, graphic design, animation, voice acting, composing music, and 3D modeling. https://www.cenkistudios.com/
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
At the heart of this whimsical story is a desire to highlight the warmth of home and family while restating the true spirit of Christmas.
“Benjamin leaves his workshop at the South Pole to show his coworkers that humanity still believes in Christmas. But his hopes are dashed by the boy, Pablo, who at the age of ten thinks he knows everything. Never had Christmas Eve been in such peril, but thanks to elves and mice, everything turns out fine.”
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My publication project for 2022 is the translation into Spanish of “Faery Sight” book 1 of my Faerie Legacy Series. Look for it during the Spring Equinox!
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon | WaterBearer Press
La Nochebuena jamás corrió tanto peligro, pero, Entre Duendes Y Ratones, todo se arreglará a pedir de boca.
LITERARY TITAN 