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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.
Its Beautiful Chaos
The Reindeer Ranch follows a woman who unexpectedly finds love during the holiday season but finds that love comes with new challenges. What inspired the setup to this story?
The story developed as I was creating a book of short stories for Christmastime last year, I wanted the feel of the season with all of its beautiful chaos.
Your characters go on a deeply emotional and transformative journey in your novel. Is this intentional or incidental to the story you want to tell?
I believe that all relationships are transformative. I wanted the characters to learn to trust again, which is often the hardest emotion to learn after a heartbreak. Some people will completely miss the opportunity to find love because the fear of losing it is far too great.
I find that, while writing, you sometimes ask questions and have the characters answer them. Do you find that to be true?
What questions did you ask yourself while writing this story? I find that humorous! For me, I think the characters ask me the questions and I’m left with having to answer them in story form.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m already receiving nudges to do a sequel of this book to find out what happens in Darci and Brian’s life next. I believe the book will center around the town of Hope Falls with other characters coming into vision and perhaps giving them their own stories. I’m not sure of the release date, depending on how it matures, certainly by Fall of 2022 but I’m hoping for a book much sooner.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Scroonathan: A Diwali Story
![Scroonathan: A Diwali Story by [Ram Tirthdas Daryanani]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/417RbN-n0fL.jpg)
Scroonathan: A Diwali Story by Ram T Daryanani takes the story of A Christmas Carol and views it through a contemporary Indian lens. We see the typical character of “Scrooge” in an entirely new light. Scroonathan is an excellent businessman, and the story opens with the death of his firm partner, Balaji. Scroonathan is a shrewd and frugal man who values money above all else, even the lives of others around him and the celebration of Diwali.
Many of us are familiar with the story of A Christmas Carol, and it’s so refreshing to see these same themes explored through Indian society. It shows that selfishness and cruelty can be universal, yet they can also be unlearned as we welcome generosity into our lives. As we see Scroonathan turn down kind words from those around him, it’s clear that he has shut himself off from joy. However, the ghosts of his past come to visit and set the record straight, and the story becomes a beautiful exploration of character growth.
I found Scroonathan: A Diwali Story to be a touching retelling of A Christmas Carol. This book allows a classic story to live on in the contemporary world and creates a shared experience between people of all nationalities. It teaches everyone to be thankful for what they have and generous with what they share, to ultimately live more fulfilling lives.
I would have liked to see even more descriptions of Scroonathan’s home and life in India. I think the setting makes this story so unique, and as someone who has never been to India, I was fascinated learning about how Scroonathan reflects the same experiences of the original text in his homeland.
Scroonathan: A Diwali Story by Ram T Daryanani is such a unique take on a story that has lasted throughout decades, and I think everyone could benefit from reading this book and experiencing a different cultural connotation. I loved learning about Diwali while simultaneously feeling the life lessons associated with the classic tale.
Pages: 98 | ASIN: B09C6L6Z47
Tales from the Smoke House
Traditions make the world go ‘round. From customary meals to reminiscing about days gone by, family and community traditions are everything when it comes to holidays. Christmas in the United States is certainly no exception. One of the most endearing aspects of Christmas is knowing there will always be a good story shared. Franklin P. Smith knows this all too well. He has taken a tradition cherished by families everywhere and tweaked it to make an incredible little fiction read that will touch hearts and bring warm smiles to its readers. There is an art to storytelling and Smith has mastered it.
Tales from the Smokehouse: The Christmas Book, by Franklin P. Smith, contains the tales spun by visitors to the Smoke House. Everyone who drops by promises to reveal a tale that everyone will find captivating. Smith has written his book in a unique style in which one plot exists but consists of several individual stories told by its characters. The first story shared is about an amazing cat with more than its share of lives. Smith chose a fantastic tale to begin his book.
Smith manages to incorporate life lessons in the stories his characters share. The meaning of Christmas is just one of those lessons and the reason this book makes an ideal holiday gift. This short read would be a perfect present for a host or hostess at a neighborhood holiday party. The stories and lessons within are timeless, relatable, and engaging. In all honesty, I can see Smith’s book as a wonderful read aloud. Sharing stories is one of the best ways to build relationships and draw people closer. Each one of the tales told by his characters in the Smoke House conjures a warm feeling and creates the most vivid imagery. It isn’t often you find stories that easily appeal to so many age groups and demographics.
Tales from the Smokehouse: The Christmas Book, by Franklin P. Smith has everything required to become a holiday bookshelf must-have. I highly recommend Smith’s work to anyone looking for a new and engaging read during the holiday season or to anyone wanting to gift a meaningful book to family, friends, or coworkers.
Pages: 56 | ISBN: 1535278056
I Could Never Have a Christmas Tree
BUTTERBALL’S Christmas Surprise follows a young poodle as she prepares for Christmas, gets into mischief, but does her best to ensure Santa’s visit. What inspired the Christmas theme in book three of your series?
My previous miniature poodle was notorious for wanting to play with my Christmas trees. She was fascinated with the decorations. Consequently I could never have a Christmas tree or could only have one high up where she couldn’t reach.
What was a lesson that was important for you to include in this book?
It is important to show genuine remorse when one does something wrong. It is also important for positive behaviour to be rewarded.
I appreciated the questions at the end that provided an opportunity for reading comprehension. How do you see this fitting into a teaching curriculum?
The questions are designed to test the ability of young readers to understand and retain details in the book. I think this is a good exercise in reading comprehension.
What plans do you have for Butterball the Poodle book 4?
Currently I have no plans for Butterball the Poodle Book 4 BUT I might change my mind at a later date. I have started a new series which will be on sale very soon – A Poodle called Pippin Book 1 “Pippin’s Country Adventure”.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
She helps to prepare for Christmas and sees shiny balls on the Christmas tree but Butterball cannot stop thinking about those shiny balls.
Will she make a mistake? Will Butterball get her surprise?
Join Butterball as she goes to the poodle groomer and …
Includes fun questions at the end of the story.
