This year, as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season took over, I took a creative detour from my annual illustrated advent calendar. Instead of 25 illustrations, I came up with concepts for ‘classic Christmas stories’, and created the cover illustration. So in leu of the Annual Land of Le Beef Christmas Advent Calendar, I present, ‘Festive Fables: 4 stories from the North Pole’. I’ve included a little blurb about each story, however Educators are welcome to use these illustrations and titles as creative writing prompts, and see what wonderful stories their students create.
Festive Fable #1: The Ninja Elves
Every year Santa Claus visits homes all over the world, delivering toys and Christmas cheer, but what most people don’t know (including Santa himself), is that Santa is hopelessly clumsy! He can barely go into a home without knocking over a tree, stepping on a cat’s tail, or accidentally smashing a priceless vase. Enter ‘the Ninja Elves’, Christmas’ silent saviours. Every holiday season this covert squad of stealthy elves silently follow the big guy around to every home, preventing countless catastrophes with every lightning fast move, ensuring a safe and silent night for all.
Festive Fable #2: Christmas through the Ages
Take a journey through time as the North Pole’s oldest elf shares stories of Christmases past, from ancient Rome to the Renaissance, and all the way back to the Stone Age and beyond. What kind of wrapping paper did they use in the Bronze Age? Where did cavemen hang their stockings? What did a stegosaurus want for Christmas? Every page is a yuletide delight that will keep you on the edge of your tinsel trimmed toes.
Festive Fable #3: The Christmas Beavers
The North Pole toy shop has changed a lot over the years; where there used to be a simple workbench and a few tools, there are now big machines, electronics, and even a few robots. But if step outside, walk through the forest, past the field, and follow the river down a little ways, you might see a little dome made of sticks, and you might hear the soft sounds of sawing and tinkering. Inside you will find the Christmas beavers. While toys become more and more convoluted, these beavers continue a tradition and handcrafting little wooden toys. They put a lot of love into each piece they make, and because each one takes so much time, they only give them to extra special girls and boys. So this Christmas, if find a wooden treasure under the tree, you will know that the Christmas beavers made it just for you.
Festive Fable #4: The Elf-Napping of Connor McDavid
Frustrated by their repeated losses in the North Pole Hockey Tournament, a team of elves hatch a bold plan to kidnap NHL superstar Connor McDavid. Though initially hesitant, McDavid is eventually persuaded to coach the elves, and their skills quickly improve under his guidance. But as they train, the elves discover that winning isn’t everything, and that the true spirit of hockey lies in the camaraderie and sportsmanship they develop along the way. With their newfound sense of teamwork, they approach the tournament with a fresh outlook and renewed determination, ready to show the world what they’re made of - not just as players, but as a team united in friendship and fun!
Happy Holidays :)
Darren