In celebration of Christmas, here’s a poem inspired by Christmas at our house when the kids were little. (FUN FACT: I loved it when my kids played with our little nativity. Indeed it was that fun play that inspired me to write GOODNIGHT, MANGER! If you want more on that check out this old post.) Now for the poem. Enjoy!
Where is Baby Jesus?
by
Laura Sassi
The toy train chugs in circles
Underneath the Christmas tree.
The créche is on the table
Just where it’s supposed to be.
.
But the figurines are missing.
The stable’s still and bare.
And I can’t find Baby Jesus.
I don’t see Him anywhere!
.
I see Mary on the sofa
With the donkey at her side.
The angel’s on the mantel
Halo glowing, arms flung wide.
.
And balancing on branches,
I see wise men – one, two, three.
Joseph’s resting on the stairs,
But where can Jesus be?
.
The shepherd’s in the box car
So the sheep are roaming loose.
At last, I’ve spotted Jesus –
He’s riding the caboose!
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This past Friday morning, I had the joy of gathering with over sixty or so women for a Christmas brunch organized by the wonderful women who lead the Friday morning “Tapestry” Bible study at our church. As we were planning the event, we knew we wanted it to be a time of fellowship, caroling and feasting. We also needed a program. But what would it be?
Well, a possible answer came as I was organizing my basement and discovered this shoe box from the early 1980s. Judging from the size, it once contained sneakers for my dad, but those are long gone. Instead, on the top, in my mother’s neat printing, it says JESSE TREE.
Seeing it made my heart lurch. Here’s why:
I received this box from my mom 11 years ago, shortly after she was diagnosed with ALS and honestly I was so distraught over the whole situation (she passed away less than a year later) that I just stuffed it in the basement behind some other boxes. And I forgot about it—until now.
Here’s the beautiful story behind this special box:
My mother came to her faith when she was in her thirties after someone invited her to come to a women’s bible study much like the one I now attend and help lead. We were living in Minnesota at the time and my mother was all in – following Jesus, digging into His Word and growing in her new faith. Then we got word that my dad’s job would be taking us to Paris, France. And while my mother was excited, the move also filled her with anxiety. Where would we worship? How would she continue to grow in her knowledge of Christ and His word? Would there be good Bible teaching and community?
Well, God is good and he answered her prayers in a most delightful way. In the 1970s there were only two or three English speaking churches in Paris and the one God led my parents to was a little Baptist missionary church that met in what had formerly been a carpenter’s shop! The sermons were grounded in Scripture, there was a vibrant Sunday school program and lots of opportunity for fellowship and growth.
Here’s a snapshot collage from our time at the church. The upper left shows my dad with his Sunday school kids. (He taught the teens.) The next one and the one diagonal are snapshots from a retreat we took to the Vosges mountains. In the pictures we are strolling through Strasbourg and enjoying a picnic lunch on the hood of one of our cars. My mom is the one the right at the picnic and far left in the strolling scene. And I’m the squinty kid on the left at the picnic. The image on the bottom right is a snapshot of my sister’s Sunday school class. She ‘s cute one with the bangs and the white shirt.
Now fast forward to 2023 and the box. When I opened it, there sitting on top of the tissue paper was a note from my mom! It read:
“When were were living in Paris, our pastor’s wife made the ornaments for a Jessie [sp] Tree. Almost a whole service was planned around it. I loved it so much that I went home and made one too. Later, at our church back in Minnesota, they decorated the tree in front of the sanctuary with two sets that I made out of special paper and foam core. Here they are now, for you, along with the handouts that I made explaining each one.”
Wow! It was like receiving a message from her after all these years — and sure enough, right under the note were copies of the handout she created and nestled in tissue, were the ornaments.
The JOYFUL CHRISTMAS takeaway:
My mother’s Jesse Tree ornament collection is a testament to how much coming to Jesus transformed her. Coming to Jesus can transform us too! Like these ornaments, which, once re-discovered, begged to be shared, my mother didn’t want to keep her new found faith tucked away. No, she wanted to share that faith Christ with others.
So, now, without further ado, here are the nine (out of her thirteen) that I shared at our program on Friday along with scripture citations if you’d like to look them up for yourselves as part of preparing your heart this Christmas. And—full disclosure— one ornament was missing, the star. So instead, I have substituted the ninja star ornament that my son made for me when he was 10. I’m sure my mother would approve! Merry Christmas all!
The evergreen represents the genealogy of Christ, beginning with “the root of Jesse” and ending with Christ, “the morning star”.
Isaiah 11: 1-2
The star represents Jesus, our savior and Lord.
Numbers 24:17
Revelation 22:16
The Ark of the Covenant represents the new covenant in Christ and is a symbol for Christ.
Hebrews 10:16-18
The Tablets of Law remind us that Christ fulfilled the law.
Matthew 5:17-18
The lamb represents Christ “who taketh away the sin of the world”.
I Peter 1:18-19
Jacob’s Ladder represents Christ reuniting humankind with God.
Genesis 28:12
John 1:51
Bethlehem represents the birth of Christ.
Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:3-5a
The Cross and Serpent represent Christ lifted up on the cross that those who look on Him may live.
Numbers 21:9
John 3: 14-15
The Crown and Scepter represent the reign of Christ.
Isaiah 9:6-7
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Today I’m delighted to have debut children’s book author Valerie Ellis as my guest sharing five fun facts about her darling new lift-the-flap Christmas book SHARE THE JOY, illustrated by Sergio de Giorgi and published by Paraclete Press.. Here’s the official description per the publisher’s website:
It’s Christmas, and there is so much to be excited about! This lift-the-flap book helps kids explore and share all the fun, love, and true joy of this special time of year.This first book from author, speaker, and mom Valerie Ellis celebrates all the wonderful things that bring us joy at Christmastime! Charming rhymes and vibrant illustrations will entice little readers to lift the flap to learn even more about how they can help make Christmas special for others, and share the gift of Jesus’s birth with everyone.
Here’s the book trailer:
Here’s my take:
Sweet and interactive, I think this book is a wonderful addition to a family, church, daycare or preschool Christmas book collection. My kids are too old for it, but I’ve purchased one anyway to keep in our Christmas book basket to be enjoyed by young visitors and future (I hope) grand children.
Now enjoy this special post as Valerie shares five fun facts aboutthe book and writing. Thank you, Valerie!(And remember to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.)
FIVE FUN FACTS
About
SHARE THE JOY
by Valerie Ellis
Fact #1:The flaps are more than fun. They hold meaningful surprises. Share the Joy! helps kids discover how wonderful it is to share and care. Above each flap, we see families engaging in favorite Christmas traditions like baking cookies or singing carols. Under each flap, kids are expanding those activities to give to others and celebrate Jesus!
The idea behind these meaningful surprises is simple: connect sweet examples of service to the Christmas activities kids already love to inspire the next generation to put God’s love into action.
Fact #2:This wasn’t always a lift-the-flap book…
The desire to help kids embrace the true spirit of Christmas has been with me since I was a kid myself—knowing Jesus was the best gift and the greatest servant but also understanding how easy it is for those truths to get crowded out. When I began writing children’s books, I knew I wanted to create one to help kids make the connection between deeper Christmas joy and greater love for others.
However…what I had originally planned to write was much different than the book you see now. I had the message, but something about it just wasn’t right. Then my agent suggested we turn the concept into a lift-the-flap book. After an initial brainstorming session, the ideas started flowing, the rhymes started clicking, and it was a pretty quick writing process after that! (Thank you, Annette!)
Fact #3: I had the privilege of suggesting potential illustrators, and I was so excited when Paraclete Press chose Sergio de Giorgi! From what I’ve heard, it’s rare for an author to be included in that process. In fact, early in my author journey whenever people would ask how I planned to find an illustrator, I’d always say, “Oh, the publisher does that. I may not even see the illustrations until the book is printed!” That would have been fine too, but I’m so grateful the Paraclete team invited my collaboration.
One of the things that put Sergio on my list is how the kids in his images really look like they’re interacting with each other. I wanted this book’s young audience to easily understand the love-in-action displayed on each page, and Sergio pulled that off beautifully. Another element I love: the kids Sergio draws are so cute!
Fact #4:And speaking of the pictures, there are plenty of fun things to point to on every page, which makes for great read-again potential and meaningful conversations. Plus, families can search for Christian Christmas decorations like angels, nativity scenes, and advent candles. It’s fun to help kids recognize these beautiful symbols or maybe learn about them for the first time.
I’ve been delighted to hear how many people have found something personal to connect with in the illustrations. One reviewer said she felt most drawn to the singing scene because her elderly mom is so happy when kids visit her nursing home. Personally, I love the poinsettias because we used to sell the beautiful red blooms to raise money for a local women’s shelter.
Fact #5:Share the JoyI is my debut but not my first! It’s actually the second book I wrote and sold to a publisher. So, how did it become my first? I was pleasantly surprised when Paraclete said they wanted to release it just a year after the contract went through!
I can’t share too much about my “first” book right now, but it’s releasing in 2025 and, like Share the Joy!, it meets families at the intersection of faith and fun! Stay tuned!
Thank you, Valerie! I think Fact #1 is my favorite! I love how you used something as tangible and fun for kids as lift-the-flaps to plant seeds of kindness and sharing. I look forward to your next book too.
About Valerie Ellis:
Valerie Ellis is a children’s book author, speaker, and founder of the multi-author online resource Our Everyday Parables, which offers book reviews and parenting resources for families pursuing faith and compassion.
A certified teacher, Valerie is passionate about helping kids and parents connect with God and each other in the everyday moments. Her books—releasing October 2023 from Paraclete Press, February 2025 from Tyndale, and October 2025 from Waterbrook—are designed to serve families at the intersection of faith and fun.
Valerie is a member of MOPS/MOMSnext, SCBWI, and the Texas Library Association. She is also a nonprofit consultant, trainer, and grant proposal writer in the Houston area, where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys.
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!! If you’d like a chance to win a SIGNED copy of SHARE THE JOY (Paraclete Press, 2023) follow this blog and post a comment below letting me know. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) Thank you, Valerie, for providing the winning book. This giveaway ends Friday, 11/17/23 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced the next day!
Welcome to Week SEVEN of Summer Bible Time as we Read, Play and Pray our way through MY TENDER HEART BIBLE (Paraclete Press, 2023). This week’s story is called “Welcome, Jesus”. It’s the story of the night Jesus was born.
Happy Christmas in July! I wasn’t familiar with this summery nod to Christmas as a child, but I think it’s a delightful excuse to celebrate the birth of Jesus and remind little ones that He is the gift of Christmas —even in summer! This week’s Read, Play and Pray has opportunities for song, story, crafts, and acting as we celebrate the nativity story. And the weather this time of year, hot as it might be, is similar to what it might have been like that night so long ago when the angels brought the good news to those shepherds that God’s precious son, Jesus, had been born to bring God’s love to earth.
Time to READ, PLAY and PRAY!
READ. Before reading “Welcome, Jesus”, take a careful look at Sandra Eide’s illustration. Can your children guess what is happening? Who do they think that baby is? Who is coming to visit? After they make their predictions, read the poem, pausing to ponder and point as you go. Give special time, especially, to the closing lines that read:
His mother’s heart was full of thanks.
Sweet Jesus, shine Your light!
Ask your children why they think Mary’s heart was so full of thanks. Consider together how our hearts might respond to the good news of Jesus. By giving thanks? By loving Jesus? By letting Him love us? By all of the above and more? YES!
PLAY. Here are four ideas for playfully extending this week’s reading by taking time with your little ones to review the story in simple, but meaningful ways.
Idea #1: SING! Just as the angels announced the good news of Christ’s birth through song that night so long ago, take out your hymnals, or play some Christmas music and have a Christmas sing-a-long. For extra fun and memories, take it to the next level and go caroling!
Idea #2: Have a BOOK-A-THON! Continue the Christmas in July celebrations by pulling out a stack of your favorite nativity-themed picture books. Then, read, read, read!
Idea #4: Re-enact the nativity. Take out your nativity set, or have your kids dress up. Then, using today’s poem as your guide, re-enact the Christmas story. Add animal sounds and alleluias to bring the story to life. You can also retell by opening your Bible to Luke 2 or by reading and acting aloud your favorite nativity-themed picture books. Be sure to always link back to the all important message that Jesus is the gift of Christmas.
PRAY. Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to earth as a baby. He is the gift of Christmas. Thank you, Jesus, for being our loving Savior and Lord. We love you! Amen.
Tip: To pray this together with your little one, break it down sentence by sentence or phrase. Say that short and then have them repeat it This is great modeling for how we can talk to God.
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On the heels of my special post about Sister Michelle, which honors a special Christmas memory from when I first moved to Paris, France, as a shy eight-year-old, it seems fitting today to share another memory that forms sort of a book end to that one. Both have in common that they honor special people in my life. Be sure to read to the end for a holiday challenge for you that has to do with honoring significant people in your life’s journey. And now, for today’s reflection.
In the fall of 1981, a shy girl, still very homesick for her friends and life in France, moved with her family to a suburban community just outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She didn’t know many people and to say it was a shock to her quiet self to be suddenly plunked into a huge junior high with 300 or so kids in the seventh grade alone, is an understatement. There had only been 15 or so kids in the whole 6th grade at her previous school!
That fall this shy girl comforted herself by reading lots of books and writing and drawing. But good things were at work for within days of starting school that girl (who was me if you haven’t guessed) met a sweet, kind, soul who immediately made her (me) feel welcome.
This girl, whose name was Elizabeth, was shy like me and also liked to read and write. We quickly became “kindred spirits” for, yes, we had both, of course, read and loved Anne of Green Gables. Elizabeth made that first fall in Minnesota not just bearable but delightful!
This brings me to my special Christmas memory that was triggered by watching this Youtube video that this special friend, who grew up to be a Lutheran pastor, posted on her social media in December 2020. In it, she shares a special life-long collection of hers: advent calendars! Enjoy the video and then read about my special memory below:
Pastor Elizabeth may not remember this, but that first December of my junior high life in Minnesota, she invited me over to her house. I don’t remember all the details of that afternoon, but I do remember the highlight!
“Do you want to make advent calendars?” she asked. I had never heard of such a thing so she showed me one and explained how it was a special way to look forward to Christmas day by opening little windows each day.
Then she showed me how we could make our own by using two pieces of sturdy paper. First we drew our cover sheets with festive Christmas scenes. Next, using scissors we cut out 24 flaps for windows and numbered each one. Then we attached the undersheet and put a special Christmas message or symbol or verse in each window. It was so much fun!
I’m pretty certain that my own family’s love of advent calendars can be traced back to Elizabeth. Indeed, since they were little, my kids have looked forward to their advent calendars (and the chocolate inside) each and every year. Need proof? Here’s a tasty close up of one of Miss A’s advent calendars.
Now, in a spirit of gratitude and awareness of God’s blessings, I’d like to take a moment to honor Elizabeth, who’s been such a good friend over the years – doing kind things like cheering me on in my writing journey and even sharing my books with her congregation.
Here’s my closing thought for you. Is there some special holiday or family tradition that can be traced back to a special person in your life? If so, maybe today or this week is a good time to find that person and let them know.
Blessings of the season, all!
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One of the joys of having a new book out is getting to do special things like chat on these two family-friendly podcasts. Here’s a little bit about each podcast followed by links for easy listening.
First. it was my pleasure to be interviewed by podcast host Andrew Jackson for his children’s story time program, StoryJumpers, a bi-weekly Christian podcast that features a children’s book read by the author and an interview with the author. The episode which features HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD (Paraclete Press) aired, Friday, December 9th, 2022 over at www.wearethebridge.org a community supported, non-commercial Christian radio station serving Delaware, South Jersey, parts of Maryland and beyond.
Thank you, Andrew, for being such a great host! I had a wonderful time. Here’s the link:
TIP: Just listen and enjoy, or for an ever richer experience, grab a copy of the book so your little ones can enjoy the pictures as I read.
Second, on Friday I was the featured guest on the fun and lively Collide Kids Podcast. Per host Christen Clark’s description, “The Collide Kids Podcast is a show for kids and families were fun and faith COLLIDE! We will get to know friendly, interesting people who can teach us something new. Our goal for every episode is to help kids discover they are loved by God!”
Her guests include people from wide variety of professions and I’m honored to have been part of her line-up. Christen Clark is also fun and funny which makes for a great podcast vibe!
Today I’m pleased to have children’s author Claire Annette Noland here to share five fun facts about her newest book, RAVEN’S GIFT: A FEATHERED FLIGHT OF FAITH, published byBless This Press, an imprint of Little Press Publishing.
Here’s the official blurb from the publisher’s website:
Raven is bored. Nothing ever happens in the fields around Bethlehem until one night, a dazzling star appears. Angels gather and sing “Baby Jesus is born!” Now Raven has a mission. He will fly and take the message to the other birds who are thrilled to take gifts to baby Jesus. But Raven wonders, what gift can he bring?
Based on an old legend, birds of the Bible celebrate the birth of the Savior in this tale of determination, perseverance, and faith.
I was delighted to get a sneak peek at the digital ARC for this book which released just five days ago. Written by Claire Annette Noland with colorful illustrations by Desirée Cordón, RAVEN’S GIFT is an engaging addition to the Christmas picture book cannon. The story flows beautifully from spread to spread and children will empathize with Raven’s growing concern about what HIS gift will be. Without spoiling the ending, let me justsay that Raven’s gift is perfect – and one that young and old should be remembering to give. Well done!I think this book would make a wonderful addition to a your home, church, school, or town library. And now enjoy Claire’s five fun facts.
Five Fun Facts about
RAVEN’S GIFT: A Feathered Flight of Faith
by Claire Annette Noland
Fun Fact #1:Raven’s Gift: A Feathered Flight of Faith is a retold legend about birds taking gifts to baby Jesus in the manger. I first came across the legend in a collection of Christmas stories, poems, and songs called Take Joy collected and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, one of my favorite author-illustrators. I loved the tale of a raven who hears the angels announce the Savior’s birth and sets off to tell the other birds.
Fun Fact #2: I enjoyed researching birds in the Bible as I chose which birds would be characters in my story. Originally, I included ten birds but the story was too long so I had to take out some. The backmatter includes the biblical references for each bird.
Fun Fact #3: I wrote Raven’s Gift ten years ago! I received many rejections and at one point thought about self publishing. Finally, it was picked up by a publisher who held it for four years and then went out of business. Sigh. In the meantime, I went on to write magazine stories, easy readers for the educational market, and work-for-hire for a large regional children’s hospital system. My first trade book, Evie’s Field Day: More Than One Way to Win was published by Cardinal Rule Press in 2020. Michele McAvoy, One of my fellow CRP authors, began her own publishing company called Little Press Publishing. I saw that she had plans for an imprint called Bless This Press and am thrilled that she chose to publish Raven’s Gift as the first book in this imprint.
Fun Fact #4: I originally wrote the main character as an old, tired, cranky raven but revised when Michele suggested that children would relate more to a young raven. Now the story features Raven who is bored because nothing ever happens in his neighborhood.
Fun Fact #5: I love the book’s message that the greatest gift of all is sharing the good news!
Author bio: Claire Annette Noland is an author of easy readers, board books, and picture books for young children. Her career has centered around children and books as a children’s librarian, reading specialist, author, and mom. Her life’s goal is to encourage kids to be excited about reading and learning.
Claire lives with her husband and large poodle-mix, Mr. Ernie, in a book-filled home in central California. She finds inspiration for the stories she writes from the children in her life. When not writing, Claire can be found stocking her little free library, playing bocce ball on the beach. and taking field trips using kid-lit as her travel guide.
[Note: Thank you to the Claire for the opportunity to preview the digital ARC which I was under no obligation to review. The views and opinions expressed on this blog about books and other things are purely my own.]
If you have followed my writing journey at all, you know that most of my books have in some way been inspired by my childhood or my children’s childhoods. My newest book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD, is no exception. Indeed, as I was writing it, all sorts of memories became sparks — including one that I’d like to share today.
In the fall of 1977 eight-year-old me moved with my family from Minnesota to Paris, France where everything was new and different including…school! The school my parents chose was called Marymount International School of Paris. It was a special place. For starters, it was within walking distance from our apartment which meant good exercise for us all. Second, the children who attended were from around the world and I quickly made friends from all over including Norway, Sweden, Pakistan and Scotland.
Here are two pictures from the time. The first shows me and my sister standing outside our apartment, ready for the first day of school. (I’m the taller one.) The second picture was also taken that school year and shows us with our Norwegian friend tromping to Marymount through the snow.
The third special thing about the school was that it had nuns! I had never been to a Catholic school before. The older nuns wore habits with wimples, just like the nuns in The Sound of Music. The younger nuns didn’t wear habits. Instead, they wore simple sweaters or tops in soft, solid colors, pleated skirts and sensible shoes (as my mother called them).
My teacher’s name was Sister Michelle and she was one of the younger nuns. Her classroom was situated on the 1er étage (2nd floor) of an old French maison. It had formerly been a very grand bedroom with tall decorative plaster walls, an elegant marble fireplace, and two sets of original French-door-style windows that overlooked the school’s playground.
Sister Michelle’s desk was directly in front of those windows and I remember it as being piled with books and papers and other teacher-y things. We students sat at four clusters of desks pressed together to make “tables”. Mine was near the fireplace.
Here is a picture my dad found of me at my table with Sister Michelle presiding. It might be hard to tell from the picture, but Sister Michelle was no-nonsense, yet kind, and she got me excited about reading and math.
But my favorite memory about her, and the one which was brought vividly to mind as I wrote this newest book, dates to December 1st, 1977. That’s the day she brought in the candle.
We all watched as she set it on a little table next to her desk. The candle was long and tapered with numbers from 1 (at the top) to 25 (at the base) imprinted down the side. Sister Michelle then explained that the Christmas season was special and that as part of advent, we would be taking a few moments each morning to light the candle, read a short Christmas passage, say a prayer, and then blow out the the candle. Pointing to the numbers, she explained that each day we’d let the candle burn until that day’s number melted.
I had never heard of such an activity, but it soon became my favorite part of the day. That’s because Sister Michelle wasn’t the one to light the candle, read the passage, and pray. NO! We the kids did that and from my eight-year-old perspective that was amazing! She was supervising from close by, but still! I’d never lit a candle before or read a Bible verse aloud to my class.
Looking back, I realize that those Christmas verses we read along with the candle lighting left a beautiful imprint on my heart as to what Christmas is really all about – the birth of Christ, the Savior of the World.
The experience also opened my heart to the richness of digging into God’s word -not just for the 25 days leading up to Christmas, but every day. I have Sister Michelle to thank for that — for instilling in me the importance of pausing daily to read God’s word, to pray, and to let that moment set the course for the day.
Of course, the little ones I wrote HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD for are too young yet to be reading and pondering scripture, but they can still enjoy slowing down to count and point to and wonder at the miracle of Christmas as they enjoy my simple recounting of the night Jesus was born.
For years I have been searching, unsuccessfully, for where I might purchase a candle like Sister Michelle had all those years ago. They are very hard to find. In fact, I had pretty much given up hope, but then, my Lexington VA friend, Phyllis, surprised me with this! It turns out Phyllis has been making numbered Christmas candles for years, giving over 50 each year to family and friends. She takes regular-old red candles and green crayon wax that she melts to inscribe the numbers using a thin paint brush. It’s almost exactly like the one Sister Michelle used except that Sister Michelle’s, as I recall, was white. I can’t wait to start lighting it on December 1st.
How I would love it if Sister Michelle could see this post and know the impact her Christmas candle activity has had. Maybe one of your shares will land in the feed or inbox of someone who knows her. Wouldn’t that be neat? It may be a long shot, but this is the season of miracles, right? UPDATE: She did! We corresponded. So lovely.
Blessings, all!
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Who’s ready for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD Virtual Book Launch Party? I am and so is my storytelling companion, Mouse. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us on Instagram Live on Thursday, December 1st at 7pm Eastern to celebrate the release of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. Enjoy a reading, games, a virtual BYO snack, and a simple book-inspired craft. To access the party, simply stop by my Instagram page at 7pm Eastern on the 1st.
Here’s the description:Count to TEN with Mary and Joseph as they await the birth of Baby Jesus in this sweet rhyming board book for littlest ones. Published by Paraclete Press and illustrated by Gabi Murphy with plenty to notice and count on each spread, it’s a charming introduction for littlest ones to the real gift of Christmas – Jesus!
Here’s the book trailer, if you want a sweet sneak peek:
BUT, WAIT. THERE’S MORE!!! Since SIGNED copies are part of the fun, I’m delighted to share that signed book plated copies are available (at a great price!) at PremiereCollectibles.com/happybirthday. So, if you want signed copies – and live too far to come to one of my in-person events, this is a great option. I’m grateful both to my publisher and to Premiere Collectibles for making this possible.
Mark your calendars! Stay tuned, very soon for the “party craft” reveal so you can be sure to have your materials ready for the party. I thought this was a fun way to celebrate with friends near and far, so please let your friends know so they can mark their calendars too.
On this chilly November Friday, as we head into what feels like the start of wintry celebrations, with Thanksgiving first up, I thought I’d take a moment to give thanks for all the support and encouragement I have experienced with the release of my new book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. It’s a simply told board book that uses counting and rhyme to introduce littlest ones to real gift of Christmas – Jesus- and the feedback I’ve gotten so far is that it’s striking a tender chord in hearts of all ages. Today I thought I’d share five endorsements the book has received – including one from a Children’s Ministry Director!
I’m also delighted to share that HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD is the featured book today over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. The post there includes a review and a craft/game from the author – me! Here’s the link for that. Oh, there’s a giveaway there as well. So be sure to head on over. Happy Friday!
“A fun and engaging introduction to the Christmas story.” —School Library Journal
“You will not be able to read this book without smiling! Every single page of this counting Christmas offering from Laura Sassi is filled with delight. From one stable to ten tiny toes, this book is a joyous, fun, interactive way to celebrate the season with little ones.” —Glenys Nellist, author of Snuggle Time Christmas Stories and Good News! It’s Christmas!
“A creative re-telling of a timeless story—young children will smile with the turn of each page.” —Christine Voegeli, Director of Children’s Ministry at New Providence Presbyterian Church
“Happy Birthday, Christmas Child has everything I’m looking for in a faith-based picture book—lilting rhymes, a sweet story, and, most importantly, Biblical truth! It deserves a place in your holiday book basket.” —Kristin Wynalda, creator of Big Books, Little Ears
“Simply told in lovely rhyme, Happy Birthday Christmas Child is presented in a way that is true to the bible’s telling but written for youngest readers to enjoy, with things to count on every page along the way – from 1 stable to 10 tiny toes.” —Susanna Leonard Hill, New York Times bestselling children’s author
Laura Sassi Tales 