About The Book
"This is a beautiful story that stimulates the imagination of young children."
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The Elf Child
The Blue Dark By Kenneth Michael Davidson | Illustrated By Donna Louise Moore Sweet young Elf Child is lost and afraid. But the Elf Child is also one very plucky little sprite. The brave young child can soon be seen soaring over glistening spotless snow to discover life’s most treasured gift. Along the way, several curious characters including some nice mice, a dog, a bunny, a nightingale, and an owl help the Elf Child. The affection shown by these lovable characters reveals something that all children, or elves, need and deserve. Beautifully illustrated, The Elf Child story is based on a whimsical lullaby of the same name by author Kenneth Davidson. Information about the YouTube music video will be found at the end of the book.
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Where To Purchase
eBook Edition
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Print Edition
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Reviews
"This is a beautiful story you've written for children that also stimulates their imagination all the way through. I like how it gets the children (and adults too) wondering why the Elf Child is lost and is on this journey and what he discovers at the end is so meaningful. The Tell Me Pages certainly encourage the children to share their feelings and it is amazing what children share...and this is very healthy and educational.
You can feel a sense of music in the story, and children will too i.e. with the phrases "sings a thousand smiles.". Also, "Comfort me with your song." along with the music notes on the page near the Nightingale.
I like the theme of the story and the fact that Nature is woven throughout, not only with the warm-hearted critters, who are wonderfully and colorfully illustrated, but having the story open with the Elf Child asking the Morning Light "Will you guide me I pray?" right down to the "...listening glistening hilltops..." inviting young readers to "...journey again some day with the Elf Child."
Will definitely share about the book. Congrats in having it published and looking forward to future stories about the Elf Child."
- Evelyn Crete, Writer, Ottawa, ON
"Very open minded - solid." - Windsor Adult High School, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Mar. 20, 2018
"The Elf Child's journey of personal growth and believing in oneself." - Windsor Adult High School, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Mar. 20, 2018
"There's so many reasons why I love this book, but let me share two of them with you. A lot of children (and adults) do not use their imagination to their full potential.
This book encourages thought and reflection from its readers, which is a wonderful benefit. The other reason I love this book is that it is gender neutral. There are no
gendered pronouns in the text, and the gender of The Elf Child is not given anywhere in the story. This allows for reader input as exemplified in the bubble on the last page in
""Tell Me Time"" where the moon asks, ""Do you know what The Elf Child's name may be?"" The book leaves this to be the reader's choice."
- Mike Butler (Mike Uncorked) The Grapevine, Wolfville, Nova Scotia 2018.
A conversation with 10-year-old Emily of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, June 2020
Author Well, Emily, now that you have read The Elf Child, would you recommend it to other children, and, if so, at what grade levels?
Emily I would recommend this story to primary to grade two.
Author Did you have any trouble reading or understanding the story?
Emily Some of the words did not make sense, and it was a little complicated how the seasons kept changing.
Author Oh, I’m sorry to hear this. Thank you for telling me, Emily. So perhaps other kids may feel the same way. But maybe teachers or parents could help explain these complicated
words and share in the enjoyment of the book themselves. And I see what you mean about the changing seasons. I even noticed some pages made no suggestion of a season at all as
when the Elf Child was seen flying through the sky with a special blankie in hand. What did you think about the “Tell Me Time” pages inserted in the story?
Emily I would recommend less Tell Me Time pages – maybe two Tell Me Times.
Author I see that you would rather get right back to the main story sooner than later. And this might be the same with other young readers, too. Thank you for suggesting this, Emily.
What do you think about the opening pages, Emily?
Emily There were trees on the right side but not on the left page.
Author Well that’s a good observation, Emily. I believe the person who made all those wonderful drawings would know, but is keeping it a secret.
Did you watch and listen to the YouTube video? If so, what did you think about the song that went with the story?
Emily At one part there was a song that was weird to be in the story.
Author Ah, I think I know what you mean, Emily. That was the part where the nightingale tries to get the Elf Child to wake up or be late in returning home to find life’s most treasured gift.
Music composers use this odd, or as you say, weird, type of music for creating tension. And when the Elf Child is awake and on the way again, the music changes back to a
happier type of music.
Thanks you, Emily, for telling me your thoughts about The Elf Child.
Emily You’re welcome
About The AuthorKenneth Davidson is a curriculum writer for the Nova Scotia Department of Education, Acadia University, and Nova Scotia Community College. Ken has decades of teaching experience at all grade levels in both Nova Scotia and Manitoba. He has also taught for many years at the university and college level. His pedagogical methods have been widely accepted and refined over the years to culminate, through the writing of The Elf Child, in a desire to appeal to the beautiful minds of young children. Kenneth is a member of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia and the The Writers' Council of Nova Scotia. |
About The IllustratorDonna Moore has had a longstanding passion for the arts in its many forms of expression. Over the years this passion has evolved into wonderful canvas paintings. When approached to illustrate The Elf Child, Donna was quite intrigued and in little time envisioned a layout of drawings that more than adequately conveys the essence and meaning of the “beautiful lyrics” (her words). |