What to Expect: Family, conflict, non-violence, Christmas.
In this modern-day Christmas fairy tale, a whimsical fantasy adventure (and lots of cupcakes) serves as the backdrop for practical lessons about staying grounded, being open to others, and resolving conflict.
When Davina wakes up in Christmas Land, she’s delighted: outdoor cupcake-decorating parties, chocolate snow, and talking bears—Christmas Land is everything she dreamed it would be. Unfortunately, all is not well in Christmas Land. With the Chocolate Mint Castle in the hands of the Evil Knight and the Queen banished, the inhabitants of Christmas Town live in fear. And then the biggest surprise of all: it seems Davina is the missing Princess of Christmas Land, destined to save them all from the Evil Knight! With the help of her new friends and her mom’s wise teachings to fall back on, Davina sets out to save Christmas Land (and secure herself a Christmas cupcake).
Davina’s easy-going, pragmatic nature is engaging, and readers will love accompanying her as she explores the delights of Christmas Land, evoked through rich sensory detail. Bright and festive digital illustrations punctuate the story, bringing Christmas Land to life. Best of all, Davina’s kind words and actions model non-violent ways of responding to conflict, inviting readers to consider how they can use kindness and mindfulness in their lives. Short chapters and simple language make the story ideal for readers who are only just getting familiar with chapter-book reading.
Christmas Land is a magical Christmas story with some important lessons about empathy and cupcake consumption.
Dr. Jen Harrison currently teaches writing and literature at East Stroudsburg University. She also provides freelance writing, editing, and tuition services as the founder of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She is an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and publishes academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.