Dear Santa,
Just a quick one from me today as I’m busy having an adventure! I mean, Christmas has come early!
We went out in the car the other night…for a really long drive in the dark…
She wasn’t best pleased, I have to say, wen she found me on the passenger seat, next to her in the front. Not when she’d fastened me into the back seat with my special safety belt harness.
I may have got a bit excited, ’cause I accidentally bit it in half…
But anyway, we went to this place, loads of miles away… and there was a cat! It sat on the stairs and looked at me. I looked back and, as I was still on the leash and on duty, I thought I should sort it out… But she took the leash off, so I knew it would be okay to just walk away.
Anyway, we went into this other room… and four dogs bounced up!
I played with them and their two-legses for ages. And then, she said I could go stay with them for a few days while she has to go north. ( I thought she’d been ‘going south’ for a while, but that’s another story…).
So, while I’m busy adventuring, Someone else would like to send you a letter…
Much love, Ani xxx
Dear Santa
I know that you are busy at this time of year with thousands of letters from boys and girls all over the world, but I have a special request for three children’s books that include lovely stories about the gift of sharing at Christmas time. I thought if you had time you could put them on my three little sisters Christmas wish lists. I know they will love them.
The first book is Little Women by Louise May Alcott. I think this one would be perfect for Elizabeth as she is always so sweet and good and kind, just like Beth in this story book. My favourite extract about Christmas from Little Women is when their mother comes home on Christmas morning and asks her four daughters to gift their breakfast to a nearby family of six children and a newborn baby, who are starving.
““My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?”
They were all unusually hungry, having waited nearly an hour, and for a minute no one spoke, on a minute, for Jo exclaimed impetuously, “I’m so glad you came before we began!”
“May I go and help carry the things to the poor little children?” asked Beth eagerly.
“I shall take the cream and the muffins,” added Amy, heroically giving up the article she most liked.
Meg was already covering the buckwheats, and piling the bread into one big plate.
“I thought you’d do it,” said Mrs March, smiling as if satisfied. “You shall all go and help me, and when we come back we will have bread and milk for breakfast, and make it up at dinnertime.”
My second choice is What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge. I have read this book four times myself and some of my homemade present ideas come from this book. I think it will be perfect for Elsie, who is a lovely little girl and so patient. Katy is injured by falling out of a swing and becomes paralyzed from the waist down. She must learn to adjust to life from her bedroom and not enjoying the freedom of movement she had before. Through trial and error, Katy does learn to become patient and becomes the heart of her motherless home and the centre of her younger siblings’ lives. My favourite extract about Christmas from this book is as follows:
“But what was that strange thing beside the bed? Katy stared and rubbed her eyes. It certainly had not been there when she went to sleep. How had it come?
It was a little evergreen tree planted in a red flower-pot. The pot had stripes of gilt paper stuck on it, and gilt stars and crosses, which made it look very gay. The boughs of the tree were hung with oranges and nuts and shiny red apples and pop-corn balls and strings of bright berries. There were also a number of little packages tied with blue and crimson ribbon, and altogether the tree looked so pretty that Katy gave a cry of delighted surprise.
“It’s a Christmas-tree for you, because you’re sick, you know!” said the children, all trying to hug her at once.
“We made it ourselves,” said Dorry, hopping about on one foot. “I pasted the black stars on the pot.””
The final book is for my youngest sister, Susan. She is a little ragamuffin and tomboy. I thought she would enjoy reading about another high-spirited little girl who lived in America during the late 18th century. She got to travel across America all the way to “Indian Territory” in a covered wagon and learned to live off the land. My favourite Christmas extract from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingals Wilder is as follows:
“”I can figure no way whatsoever to get to their cabin this year, Edwards,” Santa Claus said. “Would you do me the favor to fetch them their gifts this one time?”
“I’ll do that, and with pleasure,” Mr Edwards told him.
Then Santa Claus and Mr Edwards stepped across the stree to the hitching-posts where the pack-mule was tied. (“Didn’t he have his reindeer?” Laura asked. “You know he couldn’t,” Mary said. “There isn’t any snow.” “Exactly,” said Mr Edwards. Santa Claus traveled with a pack-mule in the southwest.)
And Santa Claus uncinched the pack and looked through it, and he took out presents for Mary and Laura.
“Oh, what are they?” Laura cried; but Mary asked, “Then what did he do?”
Then he shook hands with Mr Edwards, and he swung up on his fine bay horse. Santa Claus rode well for a man of his weight and build. And he tucked his long, white whiskers under his bandana. “So long, Edwards,” he said, and he rode away on the Fort Dodge trail, leading his pack-mule and whistling.”
Thank you, Santa for reading my letter and I hope you have a safe trip around the world with no heat waves or snow waves.
Yours faithfully
Daniel Johnson
About the author
Robbie, short for Roberta, is an author with five published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with her son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about her mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with her mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton).
All of Robbie’s children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications. Robbie has recently branched into adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differentiate her children’s books from her adult writing, these will be published under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. Robbie has two short stories in the horror/supernatural genre included in Dark Visions, a collection of 34 short stories by 27 different authors and edited by award winning author, Dan Alatorre. These short stories are published under Robbie Cheadle.
Find and follow Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Writes Blog Amazon Author Page Twitter Facebook
Books by Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Through the Nethergate
Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own. In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise. With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.
Purchase links
It is available from Lulu.com here: Lulu.com
It is also available from TSL Publications as a soft copy book here: TSL Publications
While the Bombs Fell
What was it like for children growing up in rural Suffolk during World War 2?
Elsie and her family live in a small double-storey cottage in Bungay, Suffolk. Every night she lies awake listening anxiously for the sound of the German bomber planes. Often they come and the air raid siren sounds signalling that the family must leave their beds and venture out to the air raid shelter in the garden.
Despite the war raging across the English channel, daily life continues with its highlights, such as Christmas and the traditional Boxing Day fox hunt, and its wary moments when Elsie learns the stories of Jack Frost and the ghostly and terrifying Black Shuck that haunts the coastline and countryside of East Anglia.
Includes some authentic World War 2 recipes.
Robbie also writes as Robbie Cheadle
Robbie’s Inspiration Blog Goodreads Facebook YouTube
Amazon author page Twitter: @bakeandwrite
Books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle
The Sir Chocolate books are a delightful marriage of story, verse and cookery
… a perfect recipe for sharing with children. Silly Willy goes to Cape Town tells the adventures of two very different brothers…and includes five party cake ideas.
You can purchase the Sir Chocolate books from:
or you can buy them in South Africa directly from the authors by emailing Robbie Cheadle at sirchoc@outlook.com.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Some lovely reading choices there 🥰
LikeLiked by 2 people
They really are, Ritu. I can’t even chose a favourite from these three.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏🏽💜
LikeLike
I loved all those books!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am always delighted to meet a reader who enjoys the same books as me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
These are classics. I loved the tv show, little house on the prairie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A I lucky you I hope you are still having fun, keep an eye on that cat.!
Robbie that’s a beautiful post, loved reading excerpts from my childhood favourites 💜💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Willow. I didn’t think Ani would be to keen on my cats and, sadly, we don’t have a dog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ani is like Ruby very well trained around cats 💜 and the both love books 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ani may love books… but cats are a bit touch and go 😉
LikeLike
Your not kidding, not kidding at all…never get to the bottom of a cat💜
LikeLike
Ani met her first close up this weekend… they both survived 😉 xx
LikeLike
Well I am glad for that, Ruby has had many encounters and it been a mixed experience. Ruby is unphased by cats but they the cats are not as predictable as her.💜
LikeLike
Ani reacted surprisingly well to a first close encounter, once she was off the leash and didn’t feel she had to defend me 😉
LikeLike
Ruby said she would expect nothing less 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 xx
LikeLike
💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Ani’s Advent 2019! Make believe… with Robbie Cheadle | willowdot21
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Chris.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome, Robbie 🤗❤️🤗
LikeLike
Three lovely extracts. A pity these boks aren’t read more. They teach us and our children so much. Thank you for reminding us of them.
Ani, enjoy your holiday.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, I have read all of these books to my sons [when they were young] as well as other favourite classics of mine like Anne of Green Gables. My younger son was very fond of Emily of New Moon which was one of my childhood favourites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved those books, Robbie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Mary. It is nice to be reminded of them, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 2 people
This post made my heart sing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh yay, thank you, Annette.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Excellent reading choices from Robbie. I’ve heard that Santa is very fond of giving books as gifts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have taken to ordering my own book choices from Santa, Diana. He delivers them and I give them to the people in my life to give to me for Christmas. It works really well [smile]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha. That sounds familiar. 🙂 No stress and you get what you want.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two of my favourite bloggers here together 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Esther, that is nice of you. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ani gets all the kudos around here 😉 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Books I am very familiar with.
Lovely post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am so glad, Di. Isn’t this community wonderful, everyone knows these books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a lovely community Robbie, and I am so glad to be part of it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In whole a wonderful and very sweet posting! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, dear Michael. I am sure it is very cold your way. I hope you are keeping warm and looking forward to Christmas treats.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Robbie! Yes, we got a little decrease of temperature, but in Bavarian Siberia its every winter the same, even i prefer summer. Lol Have a beautiful weekend! Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
Ani is hosting me today over at her two-legs, Sue Vincent’s lovely blog. Ani contributes wonderful ideas to Sue’s blogs and even has three of her own poetry books. Anyhow, today, I am helping her escape the fate of wearing reindeer antlers for Christmas by sharing my letter to Santa featuring three of my favourite childhood books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great letter to Santa, Robbie. You asked for the perfect books. They are timeless and still enjoyed by children today. Your sisters will love them!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Darlene. These three books have these beautiful Christmas scenes which make them very special to me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Terrific make-believe, Robbie. Thanks, Sue.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😁
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger and commented:
Enjoyed this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing, Traci. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely to be reminded of Little Women. I read it when I was very young, at my mother’s urging.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your mother recommended a great book, Liz. These three are all special to me and I still have my girlhood copies.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lovely letter, Robbie. Little Women is a wonderful book to revisit each year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jill, Little Women is one of my favourites at Christmas time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pingback: Five Links 12/7/19 Traci Kenworth – Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger
This is lovely!! The passages from beloved children’s books are treasures to be read and reread. Thank you, Robbie. Hugs and a big pat to Ani.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jennie. I always think of these books at Christmas time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Robbie. Christmas brings memories of our favorite books. That in itself is a wonderful thing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely selection of books, Robbie! What Katy Did has always been a favourite of mine. As a child I often used to wish I could be as good as the children in the Katy books and Little Women, but I never managed it. I was more like Anne Shirley, with her wild imagination and sudden flashes of temper!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was a very quiet little girl, Annabelle. I used to visit my grandmother a lot and we would do arty things together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to stay with my grandmother at weekends sometimes. I was generally better behaved in her house than at home. Not that she was strict – just the opposite. She always encouraged my writing and my music, and I used to love spending time with her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great picks, Robbie. Little Women is one of my favorite books–ever. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is a wonderful book. I did read some interesting information about the author though, which I must share. It was most surprising.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Eek… Do I want to know???
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loved the delivery of your book recommends Robbie. And Ani, you crack me up! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Debby.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heh 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
1) I loved all the books you mentioned growing up! Little House was probably the tops of the batch, though.
2) Surfin’ Santa Cake was awesome
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, that was my attempt at a Christmas in South Africa depiction. This year we are having flood though so he may actually have to use the surf board to get here.
LikeLiked by 2 people