Our first snow storm has arrived and the holidays are nearly upon us. What better way to celebrate than with a holiday book giveaway?

Robin Currie is a preschool chaplain, ordained minister, and librarian. She volunteers annually to teach reading and literacy in developing countries and has taught English in far-flung places such as China, Tanzania, and India. Her family includes four grown children and five grandchildren. She lives near Wheaton, Illinois. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or BlueSky.

JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS is a sweet holiday picture book about the birth of Christ told from the animals’ point of view (though they never speak a word!). It reminded me a tiny bit of The Mitten (or Hat or Sock or whichever version you like) where a bunch of animals cram into a small space together to survive the winter. Here they are in the barn and make room for more and more critters until the final (and obvious) space is made. While the story itself feels cozy and warmly familiar, it takes on a jaunty new rhythm that will keep the youngest of readers engaged. This story also utilizes the softest and cutest illustrations that fit the tone amazingly well. 

Welcome Robin!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?

Robin: My writing career dates back to the last century! I was a children’s librarian, and we ALL believed we could write better books than the ones we bought. After more than 45 traditionally published books, I am more appreciative of authors and grateful to be one.

Me: I love that your story focuses on the animals in the barn at the nativity in a way I haven’t seen before. What gave you the idea?

Robin: One of my favorite storytelling approaches is to use the story time techniques from my library career and apply them to Bible stories. This time, the structure is to build up slowly into chaos, like Jan Brett did in The Mitten. My twist was the addition of a tired family and a new baby in the little stable in Bethlehem. 

Me: Your text is short and deceptively simple. I love the repeated refrain, as well as the theme of kindness, that will appeal to very young readers. Did it undergo a ton of revisions to get to this finished state? Or was this story a gift from the muse that was good from the first draft? 

Robin: I always seem to be doing laundry when the Magic Writing Muse stops by! In the original version, the animals talked to each other!

The agent told me that in the religious market today, animals don’t talk. (And despite the fact that I could name lots of books where animals DID talk – plus the whole “Gift of the talking animals on Christmas Eve” thing – he said it had a better chance of selling if the cattle did not chatter.)

So I muted the 4-legged characters and sent the story to contests. Old Hannah got an honorable mention from Cascade Writers 2024 and won Silver for Royal Palm Literary Award 2024 from the Florida Writers Association. You have to believe in a Ribbon Winning Cow!

In an Above the Slushpile opportunity,  I sent it to Good Books/Sky Horse New Releases – Good Books (noting was already an award winner and the animals did NOT talk!) and got an immediate response.  Not only YES – but YES in 2025!

Me: There are certainly a ton of Christmas books already out there in the market. It can feel like everything has already been written and yet you found a lovely story that hasn’t been told before. Why was it important to you to tell this story? Why did you want to share it with young readers?

Robin: I am an ordained clergy person in both the Lutheran and Episcopal churches. I look for ways to help all children and their families hear Bible stories and may be interested in stopping by to hear my Christmas Eve sermon. BTW, Just Enough Room for Christmas was the children’s sermon at one church in 2023!

Me: The illustrations by Estelle Corke are absolutely adorable! Every character is so sweetly rendered (person or animal)! Any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?

Robin: The best page in the whole book has only one word: STOP!

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Robin: I was really amazed by how fast the process has been! I have a book I signed a contract for in 2022, and it comes out next year.

Me: Any advice for new picture book writers?

Robin: Stay Curious!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today Robin!

But wait, dear readers! There’s more! Robin has agreed to giveaway one copy of her book to a lucky winner (anywhere in the world!). You can enter the giveaway here. Good luck!