The Tree Frog And Poinsettia Is “Outstanding”
“If you truly believe in something – it will happen,” quoting the words of Bermudian author/illustrator Joan K. Aspinall who received word from the Writers Digest Self-Published Book Award that her Christmas story, The Tree Frog and the Poinsettia, is outstanding.
“In my heart, I knew that my Tree Frog was very special from a literary standpoint – descriptive, tender, and filled with love.”
Ms Aspinall commented that what a perfect time of year for this stunning publication to receive an international critique that it is, indeed, a special book. “Bermudians should be proud of the fact that it is a product of our little island,” she said.
The judge applied the terms ‘Outstanding,’ the highest rating in their critiquing system to the book’s: structure and organization, production quality and cover design, plot and character development.
As quoted: “…This is a beautifully designed book and the story is lovely and well-told… [the] story of a tree frog and poinsettia in a market saturated with Christmas books makes this one unique and refreshing.
“The cover is stunning…The message of the book — that Love given from the heart is the greatest gift of all — is one that every child should hear always, not just at Christmas…a perfect read-aloud story.
“I enjoyed all of the different facts about the poinsettia, the tree frogs, and Christmas customs in Bermuda — these only serve to enrich the story further. The illustrations for the book are beautiful and pair perfectly with the story,” according to a Judge at the Writers Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards.
Mrs. Aspinall is delighted to have her book recognized by a professional, international institution, and although, she says she did not win the Self- Published Book Awards this year, the confirmation of her talent was worth the entry fee. “To have a professional call your book, your art ‘beautiful’ is intoxicating, especially when, as a local author, you have to fight so hard for recognition.”
Principal of Purvis, Mrs. Judith Alexander, has been one of the greatest advocates of the literary aspect of the Tree Frog book and has used it in the classroom as a teaching tool Aspinall stated. “I wish schools would give more attention to the local authors,” she said.
“This is wonderful news for all the Bermudian families that already have the book and make it a part of their Christmas, Aspinall said. “It is a book to be treasured for all time,” she said, ” and while there are still copies available, this might be an incentive for new readers to buy something that is this prestigous for Christmas.”
Writer’s Digest received 2800 submissions for the Self-Published Book Awards, Ms Aspinall said, From the start, she doubted her chance of winning because of the Bermudian element, thinking it had a limited audience. However, the judge loved this inclusion as confirmed in the critique.
“I always wanted to produce this story in book form, but that long ago, we did not have the facility of the computer. It was typed on a small portable typewriter, and my illustrations were pen and ink, not an exciting format for a Christmas book.”
The story line is one of unrelenting love and follows in the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas where a little tree frog, who has grown up in the same potted plant tin as a Poinsettia, becomes enamoured with his flower when she bursts into full bloom.
To show his love for her, he travels throughout Bermuda every night for twelve nights to bring her back special gifts: a sparkling raindrop, wings of a faerie elf, a scale from a mermaid’s tail, the ocean’s breath, the end of a rainbow, and many more.
Each gift enhances the poinsettia’s beauty, until tragically, he gives her a mirror of sunbeams, whereby, the flower becomes mesmerized by her own beauty and falls in love with her own image.
The little tree frog is desolate, but his heartbreak is mended when the beautiful Poinsettia, realizing her selfishness, gives all of her special gifts to the Christ Child lying in the manger of a Cathedral. She tells the Christ Child it was the tree frog’s love that made her so beautiful, but her beauty was nothing in comparison with HIS. The flower and the little tree frog are bonded once more and their voices rise through the cathedral to the Heavens that Christmas night.
The book is available at the Bookmart, Hamilton; the Bermuda Art Centre, The Craft Market, and Hand Made in the Clocktower; Robertson’s Drug Store, St. George’s, and Lindo’s Devonshire.
For orders and deliveries, phone Ms Aspinall at 293-2529, pina@ibl.bm.
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