What would Christmas be without kids?! Their joy and excitement is catchy. Kids believe in the magic of Christmas, and wonder at the tiny baby whose birth we celebrate. They probably behave their best at Christmas than any other time of the year. Well, at least we can hope!
For children’s writers it’s also a magical time. With only ten days to go, I thought that I’d countdown to Christmas with ten days of inspiration for children’s writers.
Day 10: December 15th
My husband and I spent a good part of today in the car listening to Christmas songs. I stopped to think when I heard Kenny Chesney sing “Thank God for Kids,” which was originally done by the Oak Ridge Boys. There are many Christmas songs that wouldn’t have been written if it weren’t for kids. See if you can guess the names of the following Christmas songs.
1—a song that might inspire a child to be good before Christmas.
2—a song about a chilly winter creation who magically comes to life
3—a song about a child who asks for something that will help him wish everyone a Merry Christmas
4—a song about a child who was naughty all year
5—a song about a baby born in an unusual crib in a barn
6—a song about a boy who gives the Baby Jesus the gift of music
7—a song about the leader of Santa’s team
8—a song about someone who took over when the leader of Santa’s team was sick (think country music)
9—a song about a magical place filled with what children hope to get on Christmas morning
10—a song about a child whispering to Santa what he and his friends want for Christmas
There are Christmas stories all around us at this time of year. If you celebrate the season in a different way, similar inspiration is sure to surround you. Inspiration can come from a change in the weather, family or community traditions, words from the mouths of little ones, and maybe even from songs about the season. For example, what if, instead of the 12 Days of Christmas, it became the 12 Days of Groundhog Day? or Fathers’ Day?
When my critique group has our holiday meeting in December, we sometimes bring a manuscript to fit the season. I have at least 4 or 5 Christmas stories in my files. It’s not the easiest type of story to market, but one of these is something that I feel would make a great picture book for young children. Hopefully someday you’ll see it in bookstores.
Ok, here are the answers to the songs listed above:
1—Santa Claus is Coming to Town
2—Frosty the Snowman
3—All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
4—I’m Getting Nothin’ For Christmas
5—Away in a Manger
6—Little Drummer Boy
7—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
8—Leroy the Redneck Reindeer
9—Toyland
10—Jolly Old St. Nicholas