Gate Street Books

What happens when Heaven’s youngest angel makes a wrong turn on the Holy Night? 

Find out as Nellie Looya does her very best to announce the birth of the most Special Babe of them all and learns that every child is very special.  

Nellie Looya doesn’t appear to be the best little angel in heaven - far from it! - yet she comes to understand a truth
the seemingly-better little angels have yet to learn.  Like each of us, Nellie is much wiser, stronger, and better than she realizes. 

This delightful story, suitable for children ages 3-9, is set against the backdrop of the first Christmas night.

Written by veteran teacher Jean Porche, Nellie Looya and the Special Babe helps children understand their own importance and value.  

This book is both a charming story and an activity book.  Unlike traditional story books, in which artists show children the story in action, Nellie Looya and the Special Babe provides space for the child to create his or her own pictures and includes suggestions to inspire the child’s creativity.  In this way, your child is able to depict the story and characters as he or she chooses. 

A CD is included so that children can listen to the story whenever they wish.  

Nellie Looya and the Special Babe is as unique as every child who receives it.  Filled with your special child’s own drawings, it is destined to become a keepsake to be enjoyed year after year, a treasure that becomes more precious as the young artist grows up.

It is the perfect pre-Christmas gift to the children  in your life - and their busy parents, too!  Family discounts are available so that each child can have his or her very own book to illustrate this holiday season. 

 Book and CD

$12.99

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I spent over twenty-two years teaching in the classroom, and as I say, 'You can take the lady out of the classroom, but just try to take the teacher out of her!'  Although physical limitations took me out of the classroom, my heart is  always there, so whenever I write - and especially when I write for children - the teacher in me has something to say.  

Nellie Looya works in a variety of ways.  It is a great story that the test group children loved.  Pleasing children is Job One for children's books.

Perhaps more importantly, Nellie works for parents, too.  The themes in the book are universal: children are gifts, mistakes do not define us, it is good to listen to the directions. 

Embedded into the story are teachable moments.  A teachable moment is an opportunity to make an important point.  For example, when Theodora says she is proud of Nellie, the adult can take a time-out to express his or her pride in the child.  When they do, the child's self-esteem skyrockets; good self-esteem is critical to raising children who become balanced and grounded adults.

There are no illustrations in the book.  Instead, we gave the children space to create their own.   No illustration matches a child's imagination and, while I love beautifully-illustrated children's books,  it's important to encourage their own artistic visions. 

I imagine children decorating their books with drawings and stickers and glitter pens and having a fine time as they wait for Christmas.  Nellie Looya can keep them constructively occupied during a busy time for parents. Included is a CD of my reading of Nellie Looya, so young ones can listen to the story as they draw their pictures - while the parents have a few minutes to themselves during this busy season.