Dearborn children’s author Glenys Nellist shows her latest book, “’Twas the Season of Advent,” which follows the familiar rhythm and rhyme of Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
‘’Twas the Season of Advent’
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Local children’s author Glenys Nellist continues to follow the rhyme and rhythm of Clement Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” in her latest holiday offering, “’Twas the Season of Advent.”
Nellist has paralleled the familiar meter of Moore’s famous poem, better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” before, in two earlier books, “’Twas the Evening of Christmas” and “’Twas the Morning of Easter.”
Her Advent storybook, beautifully illustrated by Elena Selivanova, has a verse and dialogue for each day, from Dec. 1 through Christmas Day, beginning with the lines, “’Twas the season of Advent, when all through the Earth, People were pausing to ponder Christ’s birth.”
Nellist said it is a wonderful thing to be able to celebrate the Advent season.
“It’s not something I did a lot when I was growing up,” she said. “Obviously, we celebrated Christmas, but I feel like families now really want to celebrate Advent, and those Advent calendars are a perfect example, so, it’s a great time, Dec. 1, to count down the 25 days to Christmas.”
Nellist said “’Twas the Season of Advent” contains 25 short devotions or stories for families.
“The idea is you read one story a day during Advent,” she said. “I know Advent isn’t 25 days, but for the purposes of the book we begin December the first, and finish December 25.”
Each day’s entry has a Bible verse, a short story and a prayer, Nellist said.
“So, I am hoping it will be a wonderful way for families to count down to Christmas together,” she said.
Nellist said Advent wreaths, with five candles, one for each Sunday in Advent and one for Christmas Day, have always provided a weekly countdown to the celebration of Christ’s birth.
“Each candle represents a different figure in the Nativity story, with the Christ candle being the one that we light on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day,” she said.
A free, downloadable resource pack is available with the book, for churches or families to use, Nellist said, with followup questions, and activity suggestions.
“Many are focused on how we might think about giving through the Advent season, rather than receiving,” she said. “Can we help out in a local mission, or what can we make for our neighbor, or who can we write a card to this Advent time? Many of the activities focus on how we can be givers this Advent, and not just receivers.”
A resource pack, available to accompany the book, has a printable Advent calendar countdown, with 25 pictures from the book, which can be printed onto cards, and then hung, with a hook or ribbon, onto a garland or Christmas tree, Nellist said.
“One of the stories talks about Jesus as the light of the world, and, so, one of those activities asks families to think about how they might let their light shine in their neighborhood this year,” she said.
“Another one talks about the man who made the manger, who used his hands, and so, that day, I invite families to work together, to make something with their hands, and think about giving that to someone.”
Nellist said other suggestions include helping a mission or homeless shelter, or being messengers of hope, like the Angel Gabriel, who foretells the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, by sending an encouraging note to someone during Advent.
“I really hope that the book and the activities will help children and families to think beyond just what they are going to get for Christmas, and what they are able to give,” she said.
Nellist said “’Twas the Season of Advent” would make a great early gift to give at a Thanksgiving get-together, so that families can enjoy it during the month of December.
“This is a book not just for children, but for anyone to read in the lead up to Christmas,” she said.
Nellist said it was fun to relate her Advent story to Clement’s poem, and on Dec. 19, when the angels urge the shepherds to go to Bethlehem, she uses the familiar line, “Now dash away, dash away, dash away, all!”
“’Twas the Season of Advent,” published by Zonderkidz, is available at Barnes and Noble, 3120 Fairlane Drive, Allen Park (including autographed copies), and can be ordered online at Amazon.com, Target.com or wherever books are sold.
She is also willing to autograph copies for people locally, and can be reached through her Facebook page, Glenys Nellist: Author, and through her website, glenysnellist.com.
The next book in this series will be published in 2024, “’Twas the Season of Lent,” which she said will be “quite an undertaking,” since it will have 40 stories, one for each of the days of Lent.
Nellist also has written her first book on baptism, which will be published next year.