Reading joy into Christmas

Charlie May Britten & Véronique Giraudon. ©Courtoisie

Christmas embodies warm feelings for the past, courage for the present and hope for the future. Wrap those three sentiments with a red bow, and you have Charlie May Britten. She finds the spirit of Christmas, and so much more, between the covers of a book. A voracious reader, Charlie is already a published author at just 12 years of age.

“She’s been devouring books since before she could talk or walk,” shares her mother, Marie-Andrée Touchette. “Even as a toddler, she had a rare reverence for books.” Bedtime stories were a ritual in their home. Charlie’s father, Karl Britten, recalls: “I had no idea how many princess books there were in print until I started reading them aloud to Charlie every evening.”

An online literary world

Charlie’s love of reading and writing was a blessing when the global pandemic closed schools for extended periods of time. Like her classmates and children throughout the world, Charlie was isolated for close to two years. Social connections and interactions were severed. Her beloved Arundel Elementary School was shuttered and education was interrupted.

Knowing that others were also suffering from loneliness and isolation, Charlie decided to use her passion for the written word to connect with friends and family near and far. From the pandemic, the online Literary World of Charlie May was born. Each evening Charlie would log onto Facebook at 7 p.m. and read aloud. She shared fiction and fantasy, suspense and drama. She added book reviews and commentary. The world became a bit less harsh and a bit less isolated during story time with Charlie.

Advent story time

Although the pandemic may have lost some steam, the Literary World of Charlie May has not. As we head into Christmas, Charlie will read a story on Facebook Live each evening at 7 p.m. She invites you to snuggle up with your family, tune in to her Facebook page “Le monde littéraire de Charlie” and share a bit of Christmas magic.

“Books open a new world. Come and explore it with me,” Charlie asks. Fluently bilingual, Charlie will share some stories in French, some in English, and sometimes a mix. Regardless of the language, the passion and joy found in Charlie’s love of the written word will fill your heart with the spirit of Christmas.

Her holiday message is one of hope and faith. Wise beyond her years, she urges everyone to, “Hold on tight. With time, everything is going to get better.”

Putting pen to paper

As a special treat, Charlie will share passages from her first novel with her Facebook Live listeners. Published in September, La vérité sur Saint-Ours tells the story of a brother and sister who encountered extraordinary hardship and learned that you must fight for what you want. Charlie’s Arundel Elementary School teacher Véronique Giraudon is certain that this is just the beginning for the talented young author. Indeed, Charlie herself said, beaming, “I can’t wait to write my second book.”

From the heart

Charlie encourages others to “do what you love.” And what Charlie loves is the written word, and sharing that passion. “While her mother and I find joy in sports, our daughter has found her passion in words,” Charlie’s father reflected. Marie-Andrée concurred “We’ve discovered a new world through Charlie, and we could not be prouder of her.”

 

More from this author by clicking on her photo below.

Cathy Bergman

 

Cathy Bergman137 Posts

Cathy Bergman est devenue athlète de façon inopinée à un âge relativement avancé. Elle nous montre qu’il n'est jamais trop tard pour retrouver la santé et la forme. Cathy Bergman is an accidental athlete who found health and fitness late in life. She shows us that is never too late to get healthy and fit.

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account

Remember me Lost your password?

Lost Password