One Snowy Christmas Eve
All aboard for an exciting new adventure!
Christmas is a special time of year, when many of us read our favourite Christmas storybooks, or watch our favourite Christmas movies. Every year millions of children around the world read popular stories such as ‘The Snowman’ by Raymond Briggs or watch the hilarious ‘Grinch Who Stole Christmas’.
This year a new story has been published, featuring a very adventurous Santa! It’s called ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’. The book was written by Marc Bratcher who was born with cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. The book features beautiful and fun illustrations by Korky Paul.
Cover of ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’ by Marc Bratcher and Korky Paul and an image of Marc Bratcher as a child.
Q&A with author Marc Bratcher
We asked author Marc Bratcher some questions about his fantastic new storybook.
CENMAC: Can you provide a brief overview of ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’ to set the scene?
Marc: All writers write from their experience, and I am a wheelchair user. This is a jolly Christmas story that features a wheelchair stuck in the snow on Christmas Eve – but who is in the wheelchair?
Marc: I wanted to write a traditional Christmas tale from the point of view of someone like me. I’ve always loved Christmas.
CENMAC: The illustrations in ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’ really bring the story to life and the sleigh ride looks like so much fun. How did you and the illustrator Korky Paul bring your Santa to life?
Marc: Korky is always brilliant at bringing words to life. He was amazing at bringing flair and quirkiness to Father Christmas and all the other eccentric characters. His illustrations have a crazy energy to them. Just what you need for such a crazy story.
CENMAC: How do you think this book will help to change perceptions of wheelchair users?
Marc: It will hopefully show people that characters who happen to have a disability can just pop up unexpectedly in a book and have the wildest adventures. People with disabilities have their own adventures. It’s not always about ‘issues’.
CENMAC: You have said that you wished wheelchairs had more gadgets – what would be your dream gadget for wheelchair users?
Marc: A rocket booster so I could fly… or reindeer!
CENMAC: What would you say to children and young people with special educational needs about pursuing their ambitions and dreams?
Marc: Just keep at it and don’t let anybody put you off. You can do anything just like anybody else!
Illlustration: © UCLan Publishing ‘One Snowy Christmas’ illustration by Korky Paul
Image: A rocket boosting a wheelchair user!
A positive message for Christmas
Charlton Park Academy Librarian Caroline said “It is really important for everyone to see themselves and their world reflected in the stories they read, so I am really pleased whenever I see positive representation of disability in a book I can share with our students!”
We have no doubt that this great tale will be making its way into many stockings this year and is sure to become a Christmas favourite for children all around the world!
Charlton Park Academy Librarian Caroline reading ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’
