Christmas Eve on Fire, 1870: Flowers & Angels is a heartwarming historical Christmas story about faith, family, and hope in the face of unexpected loss. Set in a small frontier village during the winter of 1870, the story follows ten-year-old Flora Simard as she eagerly prepares for Christmas with her family, her beloved schoolteacher Miss Murray, and the close-knit community she calls home.

As Christmas Eve unfolds, Flora proudly hangs her handmade embroidered flower ornament on the church Christmas tree beneath a beautiful angel crafted by Miss Murray. But joy quickly turns to sorrow when a tragic fire destroys the village church just hours before the Christmas Eve service. Faced with the loss of their cherished gathering place and treasured decorations, the villagers must decide whether grief or faith will guide their hearts.

Three assignments. Three challenges. One unforgettable year.
Drue, Nicky, and Skye each face a major school assignment that seems straightforward at first. Drue is building a story diorama while restoring his treasured model privateer ship. Nicky must prepare a speech about Being as she struggles to adjust to a new school and a life she never wanted. Skye takes on a Shakespeare parody project that proves far more complicated than he expected.

As the school year unfolds, friendships are tested, misunderstandings deepen, and family pressures mount. From model ships and public speaking to Shakespeare and secondhand stores, each challenge leads the friends into situations they never imagined, forcing them to rethink what matters most.

Funny Stories from the Chemawawin Cree Nation in Cree and English brings together a remarkable collection of humorous tales preserved through the oral tradition of northern Manitoba. Recorded by the author and assistants in the mid-1980s, these stories were told by men and women of the Chemawawin Cree Nation, including elders who had lived off the land all their lives.

Filled with wit, imagination, and keen observations of everyday life, the stories feature memorable characters and situations: a man who fears everything, a black bear that arrives to exchange fish with some travelers, sparring sled dogs, a snowshoe trying to finding his way with a map, an irreverent singer, a scabby suitor, communication mishaps, dubious promises, and more. Most stories are brief, making them ideal for casual reading, while several longer narratives provide rich glimpses into Cree life and values.

Don K. Philpot is a teacher, teacher educator, and writer. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on the topics of instructional methodologies, content area reading, reading and writing instruction, and children’s literature in south central Pennsylvania.