Brydie Walker Bain
Brydie Walker Bain is a playwright, poet and children's author.
She studied History and Theatre & Film at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and furthered her studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the United States.
After returning to New Zealand she worked as an adventure cave guide for The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company, jumping off waterfalls, abseiling into caves and pretending to be her childhood hero MacGyver.
Brydie's plays have enjoyed readings in London, rave reviews and sell out audiences in Auckland, Hamilton and Waitomo.
Her latest project is a young adult series called The Natnat Adventures. The first books in the series, 'The Secret of Sinbad's Cave,' and 'The Ship of Sight and The Hand of Shadow,' are now available on Amazon.
Hi Marilyn,
You really made me think with this request. I don't think there was any book that meant Christmas to me - there was too much mad running about and summer beach time. But looking back, a book I adored as a child was Rebecca's World by Terry Nation. I can still picture the stillness in the classroom where it was read to us. I'm not sure if you've ever come across it but I remember it being magic.
That's a little off the wall but I hope it helps.
All the best and Merry Christmas.
Brydie :-)
Natalie Finnigan
Natalie Finnigan was born in Suffolk, England, and re-discovered her love for writing rhymes after the birth of her son, Alex, in 2010. Having already published two short, rhyming picture books based on three characters (Alex, Dragon and Spider), Natalie is enjoying branching out into other picture books and is currently writing a pre-teen novel to be used as a teaching text for English as a Foreign Language.
Being a Christmas enthusiast, I have to confess to not being religious, so the season for us is about giving and sharing and spending time together with family and the people we love. But when it comes to a favourite Christmas story – I can’t chose one! My favourite stories tend to be centred around where some of the traditions we observe come from. The first story of santa I remember being told derived from a wealthy man called Nicolas who, walking around his snowy town one night, saw the Christmas spirit being shared through windows he looked through and decided to give all the children presents anonymously. I love the idea that someone was moved to do things for others for no benefit to himself except the joy received from giving.
Last year we were lucky enough to go to Lapland to meet Santa himself and heard loads of different Santa, reindeer and elf stories .
I guess my favourite recent story is one I came across a couple of years ago explaining why we put tinsel on our Christmas trees. It was fun and nonsensical but the images were great so, from it, I wrote the following:
Once upon a time in a land called Germany,
A mother was cleaning and decorating her tree
All the spiders ran away to escape from her broom
They hid up in the attic and all around the room.
The cleaning done the spiders came out to a wondrous sight
A beautiful Christmas tree filled with baubles & light
They climbed around the tree and exclaimed with real delight
They’d never seen a tree decorated so bright.
But as they climbed they’d left their webs, dusty in their trail
They tried to clean them off, but to no avail.
When Santa Claus came to leave gifts as a surprise
He looked at the tree and couldn’t believe his eyes.
The spiders had been so happy, but now they all felt bad,
They didn’t want the hardworking mother to feel sad
When she woke up and came downstairs to gaze upon the tree
And saw her decorations covered, all grey and dusty.
So Santa turned all the webs to silver and to gold
And now the tree truly was a sight to behold
It glittered and it sparkled, it shimmered in the light
And all the Spiders were happy with the magic done that night.
So from that day on tinsel is used to decorate the tree
And all should have a Spider for everyone to see.
Happy Christmas!
Michele Toland
Author of:
*For the Love of French Toast
*Snuggles, Sneezes, Bubbles and Quack
*The Good Gift
*For the Love of French Toast
*Snuggles, Sneezes, Bubbles and Quack
*The Good Gift
Every year toward the end of November, my father would take me to go pick a Christmas tree. We’d bring it home and break out the Christmas decorations; the chachkies, the lights, the stockings but my favorite decoration was always our Night Before Christmas book! We’d stand it up in front of the fireplace for all to see.
The book had fuzzy velvet on the cover for Santa’s hat and gloves, I can’t tell you how many times I rubbed those. “While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads…” I always wondered, what’s a sugarplum? Before I could read, I nagged my parents to read it to me over and over and over again. When I learned to read, I never missed a chance to relive the story in my mind…until it was time for it to sleep with the decorations again for another year.
My family STILL has this worn-out, old book and I still LOVE it!
Happy Holidays from Michele Toland (and little “Em”)
Shir Guez
Troy Kent
Troy Kent has been a high school English teacher for over two decades. He is a graduate of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Troy currently resides in Long Sault, Ontario, with his wife Robyn and their five children. He is the author of the endearing children's book titled The Reading Promise as well as the whimsical children's book titled Stinky Blinky.
Draw to be made on December 28th! Be sure to
enter for a chance to win this fabulous book.
Shir Guez is a children's author and elementary school teacher.
Her children's books:
"Emma Learns to Sprout" received 5 Star reviews from leading books websites for readers and from leading books blogs.
"Sweet as Fruit" is ranked in the Top 10 sellers in Children's Cooking Books.
"Nuts about Nuts" is ranked in the Top 10 sellers in Children's Health Books.
Learn more about the author by visiting her website at shirguez.wordpress.com
My favorite children's book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I remember I got very emotional while reading it. I think I even cried. I remember it seemed quite magical to me. In addition, it was one of those books that makes you think long after reading them. A must in my opinion.
Troy Kent
Troy Kent has been a high school English teacher for over two decades. He is a graduate of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Troy currently resides in Long Sault, Ontario, with his wife Robyn and their five children. He is the author of the endearing children's book titled The Reading Promise as well as the whimsical children's book titled Stinky Blinky.
When I asked Troy this is what he replied...
This sounds awesome, and yes, I love Christmas! - I never miss Christmas mass, or mass period!
I'm sure my wife will put up at least six trees!
My favourtie Christmas story/book is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Are you interested in a couple of signed copies of each book to give away at Christmas for your readers - perhaps they can enter a Christmas draw?
Troy
True to his word the books arrived within a few days and they are being offered for our Christmas giveaway. Thank you so much Troy for your generosity and sharing these amazing books with so many awards attached to them. I promise"The Reading Promise" will be a wonderful addition to your child's book collection.
Big book giveaway! Send
me your email address to
to win a signed copy of:
Authored by Troy Kent
Draw to be made on December 28th! Be sure to
enter for a chance to win this fabulous book.
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Read on and read always!
It's a wrap.
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