Category: Books

Announcements, Books, News

Introducing our new creative and social media assistant

christmaspresspicturebooks

We’re delighted to introduce our fabulous new creative and social media assistant, Yasmin Paige. Yasmin, a University of New England student majoring in publishing and writing, is doing an internship with us for the next couple of months, concentrating on coming up with great social media campaigns and posts, and creating fun activities around our books. We’re delighted to welcome her to Christmas Press! Watch for her posts and stories on Instagram and Facebook, starting from today.

And read on for more from Yasmin herself.

Hey there, I’m Yasmin (but I usually go by Yas)! I am currently studying my Bachelor’s degree of media and communication, majoring in writing and publishing, at the University of New England. I am so excited to be working with Christmas Press and look forward to showing you what I can do!

A little about me:

I live with my partner Jarrod, and our three cats (Eddie, Lily and Daisy), which means I’m always covered in cat fur. Our apartment is overrun by books, plants, painting supplies and little knick-knacks I pick up from thrift stores and traveling. I love art, fashion history and romance novels, and will often be found curled up on the couch with a mug of Milo, reading a book or watching a video essay on Renaissance fashion.

I chose Christmas Press because of their dedication to both their authors and their audience, which is very important to me! And I hope during my time here I can further boost this connection as well as gain knowledge from those more experienced in the publishing industry. I’m not sure what the future holds for me, but hopefully I will be helping the writing dreams of others come into fruition and encouraging younger generations to take up reading ♡.

Adventure, Announcements, Books, chapterbooks, collaborations, videos

A fun little video set in the world of the four friends

christmaspresspicturebooks

For the enjoyment of our readers and supporters, we’re delighted to present to you a fun little video, Four friends at the vintage vehicle show, which is a standalone mini-episode set in the world of the four fabulous friends who just happen to have wheels: Fergie, Maxie, Lady and Flash.

The ‘Four’ series of chapter books for young readers is written by Sophie Masson, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini, and published by Christmas Press. Together, the books form a fantastic, funny and action-packed little series full of vivid vehicle characters, exciting adventures and lots of fun. And they make perfect little stocking fillers for Christmas!

In order, the books are:

Four on the Run(2020)

Four All At Sea(2021)

Four Up In Lights (2022)

authors, Books, chapterbooks, forthcoming books, Illustrators, Reviews

First review of A Very Special Moon Mission

christmaspresspicturebooks

Even before the book’s official release, the first review of Rebecca Fung’s A Very Special Moon Mission has appeared, in Buzz Words. And it’s a good one! Here’s a short extract:

This chapter book for readers aged 7 to 10 years is lively, easy to read, and well-designed with quality paper. It is frequently illustrated with black and white and grey drawings and should be enjoyed by young readers interested in space adventure.

You can read the whole thing here.

Announcements, Books, celebrations, collaborations, Inside Story, Launches, New releases, United Publishers of Armidale, UPA Books

Inside Story publishes today!

christmaspresspicturebooks

Today is the official release date of Inside Story: the wonderful world of writing, illustrating and publishing children’s books, which is published under UPA Books, the joint imprint we collaborate on with fellow children’s books publisher Little Pink Dog Books. Inside Story is also published in association with the New England Writers’ Centre, supported by a significant grant from Create NSW and generous backers in a crowdfunding campaign. This fully-illustrated book is aimed both at aspiring writers, illustrators, and other book people, and also at anyone interested in contemporary Australian children’s books, as it’s a gorgeous showcase of some of the best work around and, as well, features illuminating quotes from over 70 Australian writers, illustrators, agents, editors, designers and publishers.

Christmas Press is proud to be involved in this beautiful book, and together with our partners Little Pink Dog Books and the New England Writers’ Centre, we hope it will reach many readers and help to inspire many new writers, illustrators, editors and designers in their journey into children’s books.

The book is available in all good bookshops and may also be purchased directly through us or Little Pink Dog Books.

There will be a national online launch of the book to which all are invited. It’s being run by the New England Writers’ Centre: it’s free, but you need to book, please see here.

To give you a bit of a taste about what Inside Story is about, read this interview with one of the compilers of the book here, and watch the little trailer below.

Announcements, Books, celebrations, Christmas, festive season, holidays, short stories, short story

A festive gift for our readers

christmaspresspicturebooks

It’s that lovely festive time of the year again and to mark it we are offering a gift to our friends, supporters, readers: a fabulous Christmas short story from the magical pen of Phoebe McArthur, featuring everyone’s favourite little witch, Lucy Newton! First published in our 2019 anthology A Christmas Cornucopia, this fun tale of fun, magic and food is now available right here on our website to enjoy free. Download the PDF from the button below.

lucy-newton-christmas-storyDownload

You can of course get the Lucy Newton books from any bookshop, including our partner Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard.

We wish everyone a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and a wonderful holiday season! See you next year for more wonderful book news.

Announcements, Books, chapterbooks, forthcoming books, videos

Fun little trailer for Four All At Sea

christmaspresspicturebooks

Delighted to announce that there’s now a fun little trailer on our You Tube channel for our upcoming chapter book title, Four All At Sea, by Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini, which we are publishing next month. Four All At Sea is the fabulous sequel to Sophie and Cheryl’s popular chapterbook, Four on the Run, which was published last year.

Enjoy!

authors, Books, Eagle Books, middle-grade fiction, New releases, Reviews

First review for Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect

christmaspresspicturebooks

Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect, by Phoebe McArthur, has just received its first review, in Read Plus, with the reviewer, Carolyn Hull, recommending the novel. Here’s a short extract:

This book has been written in the style of a Trixie Belden mystery – a young girl who can solve problems and crimes with only the help of other kids. It will appeal to young readers who love a mystery story...

You can read the whole review here.