Giveaway: Christmas is Here
December 10, 2010
Oh I am so excited for this giveaway!
Horray for another SIGNED Picture book from the lovely Lauren Castillo!
I mentioned this book last month as a new favorite Christmas book. Her work is so charming and simple and wonderful. I can’t say I’ve ever come across another illustrator like her.
A little about Lauren: She graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2003 and moved to Manhattan straight away. She knocked on some doors, and landed her first picture book (and my favorite of hers, actually) What Happens on Wednesdays. She now lives in Brooklyn, NY and is illustrating up a storm with CHRISTMAS IS HERE as her latest feature.
I first fell in love with her work when I noticed her buildings and cityscapes. Lauren has a way with illustrating architecture. It’s almost as though the buildings come alive. These are some of my favorites:
And here are some winter scenes that I just love too!
So, back to Christmas is Here: I was so happy when I came across this Christmas Picture book, with text right from the Bible. What more do you need than that! You’ll love this sweet interpretation of the Nativity story…and we love it too!
Lauren actually will be going to Romania very, very soon and will be giving 300 free copies of this book to orphan children along with her church group. It makes me so happy to imagine those children with an illustrated copy of the Nativity all of their own!
So when Lauren was willing to send me TWO signed copies of her books to giveaway, I was thrilled! Again…so tempted to keep one myself. But, ’tis the Christmas Season, and I’m feeling rather generous:) That, and my children have already loved up a copy of their own!
So, for the giveaway?
Giveaway instructions:
- leave a comment making sure to enter your name and email where it asks you to
- comments will be closed on Sunday Dec. 12th at Midnight EST
- TWO winners will be chosen to receive an autographed copy of CHRISTMAS IS HERE
- Winners will be contacted via email
- I’ll ship them out Tuesday the 13th to make sure you get them for Christmas!
Best of luck!
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I LOVE all the pictures! The Nativity scene is my favorite!
I would be absolutely thrilled to win!!
Charming illustrations! I’d love to receive this autographed book and read it to my son.
That book looks wonderful! I have this dream of having enough Christmas books that I can wrap up 24 of them and open one up each night before Christmas. Since right now I have none that you could actually read in one night, this would be perfect.
Oh, I would love to add this charming book to my collection of Christmas stories. Thanks very much for the generous giveaway!
This book looks wornderful. It will make a great Christmas gift. Thanks for sharing and for the awesome chance to win one.
I’m a Hungarian momma to three precious little boys. I would pay for the shipping, but I would love sooo much to receive this wonderful book.
Really inspiring drawings. I would love to have this book and show it to my little girls!
It looks adorable. I’d love to add this to our Christmas library
Thanks for introducint me to this delightful illustrator! I would love to win this book!
So beautiful!
Absolutely lovely, and indeed, cityscapes are perfect.
Oh my goodness, What a truely lovely book, even if I am not one of the lucky winners I will definitely be adding this one to our home ‘library’.
Gab xx
I’m from Romania and I have 3 children, too. I like to draw and I like your work.(my english is not so good, so I make short and fullish sentences). That book is lovely, and yes, the architecture is wonderful( I am an architect, but I can’t draw like that)
I have read about the book in your previous post and I wished it. I am writing from Spain so I guess there are not options for me to win a copy but I just wanted to tell you I will try to get it anyway
I’ve recently found your blog and I really like your illustrations. I did not know the work of Lauren Castello before but she is also very talented! I’d love to win this book!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
(but is this contest opened to people who live overseas?)
My almost 5yo daughter was telling me today, “we need more Christmas books, REAL Christmas books about the baby Jesus.” Winning this would delight all of us!
ooohh,a new Christmas story for the kids… what could be better.
This is awesome. I have been thinking about getting this book but to win it would be divine.
So pretty! Can’t wait to see it in person. (Positive thinking!)
How divine!
Lovely book! Can’t wait to add it to my collection
What a beautiful book with a beautiful message!
Christmas is here, Hallelujah !
The book looks and sounds truly lovely. Fingers crossed
LindaSonia (baddabinda@yahoo.com)
Beautiful! I hope her trip goes well. Very generous of her!
holiday picture books make me happy.
When I saw this book on your advent post I knew I eventually wanted it! Maybe this is my chance! Thanks!
Love this book! And love the idea of the text coming straight from the Bible. Just beautiful!!
I adore beautifully illustrated children’s books. I just completed my Master’s Thesis project teaching parents about children’s literacy, and I’m passionate about opening the world of books to kiddos.
learntoreadtolearn.blogspot.com
Such a cute book!
I love her amazing skills! I also love the faces of her characters! I’d love to share this special book with my son! We don’t have a lot of children Christmas books yet with this being only his 2nd Christmas, and by just looking at these pictures with me on your blog, he was getting so excited, and pointing out things like the little dog, and, the Christmas tree!!
I love your giveaways and this one is fantastic!
Looks like a beautiful book- I would love to win!:)
Wonderful giveaway – I would love to read this to my little boy.
Her pictures are darling and make me smile. Our family would LOVE it!
That looks like such a beautiful book! Happy holidays.
The book looks wonderful. If I don’t win it I know I am going to have go and buy it.
YAY! I got it from the library as soon as you recommended it – would love a copy of our own!
what a super giveaway. i am a big fan of children’s book illustrators and i believe that they teach children a love of art very early.
I’m working on growing my collection of Christmas books. I’d love to add this to our library!
This is a really sweet book. I’ve almost bought it this month, maybe now I can win my very own copy!
How sweet! Storybooks with well-illustrated architecture are a favorite of mine. Include the love of Christ at Christmas and wow, I’d like to read this to my 3 littles. Thanks for the chance!
pairing lovely illustrations with a life-giving story is such a beautiful thing! thanks for this chance!
How wonderful! Great giveaway?
Oops…great giveaway! Not a question
super cute
Love the illustrations!
Really interesting! Fabulous illustrations! I cross my fingers!
How very kind of both of you. Please put my name in the hat. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I first learned of this book in your previous post. The illustrations look simply captivating. I’m sure both my kids would love to read it and hear the Christmas story.
Please put my name in the drawing too! I’m sure my kids will love this new Christmas book!
What a beautiful book!
So cute! I need to start building up my collection of Christams books and this is a wonderful start!
What a darling book~ I just know both myself and my 15 mon. old son will love it!
What a beautiful Christmas book! I would love to add this one to my children’s collection!
Beautiful illustrations for a beautiful story! I’d love to have a copy!
What a beautiful book!
My little boy would LOVE this! And me too!!
We just picked this up from the library and read it the day after we went to a live nativity. Perfect reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.
Wahoo! The kiddos will love this one!
These are so beautiful – I just love her illustrations.
Perfect for the advent “calendar”. We took your idea to do books and it is great!
I collect children’s Christmas books and we read them at bedtime during December. I would LOVE to add this one to my kids’ collection!
Wow, what beautiful illustrations! We’d love it!
i just love reading christmas stories this time of year!
What a lovely book! Our Christmas library is in need of a few additions.
This is our family’s new favorite- it’s on loan from the library, happily ensconced in the Christmas basket.
We’d love to have a copy of our own- thank you for the opportunity!
You are both such talented women. It is inspiring.
Merry Christmas!
This looks enchanting! I love it! I have not been on the internet for so long! Its good to catch up!
This would be a perfect gift under our tree.
I purchased this book on Amazon after reading your recommendation last month. I love it! Beautiful illustrations!! What a wonderful book to donate to children!
Thank you for sharing this book! It looks so special.
I love children’s books. I love illustration. I love to read to my grandchildren, just as I read to their parents. I would love to win this book!
Thanks for introducing me to a new illustrator! I’d love a chance to win.
This is a beautiful book. We collect Christmas books and this would be a lovely addition!
How exciting and what beautiful illustrations. Please enter me in the drawing for CHRISTMAS IS HERE. Thanks for introducing me to a wonderful new Christmas book. It’s always nice to add to the stack of children’s books. Fun for everyone.
Looks like a charming book – thanks for the opportunity.
Beautiful illustrations! I’d love to win a copy!
Oh, I love this book!!! I’d LOVE to read this to my kids for Christmas this year!
I actually googled “Sarah Jane nativity” to see if you have a nativity picture book because I love your style, and that’s how I came across this giveaway! happy to have the chance to win this book – thanks!
This book looks adorable… My boys would love it. Merry Christmas!
what a perfect addition to our library!
I love her work!!!
This book is so very, very beautiful!
I love the illustrations. It looks like a really sweet book!
Wow, what a beautiful book! Thanks for sharing it!
Alas, my children are growing up, but I think I’ll just keep this one for myself!
I put this book on my wish list when you raved about it previously. Now a giveaway? Hooray! You are so generous!
This is an awesome giveaway! I would love to read this with the kiddo. She is lovely illustrator.
xx fingers crossed!
So beautiful! I would be so lucky…
What a lovely book! It would be a wonderful addition to my library! Thank you.
I hope win
Looks like a sweet book.
I would love to share this book with my little ones!
I love those illustrations. Thanks for introducing us to a great new book!
What a great giveaway! Can never have to many Christmas books.
What charming illustrations. I love the one with the dog pulling her. We would LOVE to add this book to our Christmas library.
Love the quaint illustrations in this book! We don’t get a lot of snow in the south and my youngest 3 are enchanted with snow! Especially this time of year…
Thank you for the chance to win this beautiful book! I love the amazing illustrations!
Oh, cozy Christmas books!
Oh, how my heart just loves the scriptural aspect of this sweet book. Not to mention that I would love to sink right in to her landscapes and walk around for a bit. Thanks for the chance!
I’ve just started following blogs and have found yours to be wonderful! I look forward to reading it daily. I particularly liked the idea for the advent calendar featuring Christmas books. I believe that Christmas Is Here would make a wonderful addition to this awesome tradition.
Thanks for offering such an awesome giveaway!!!
I just wanted to share that after your first post about this book I bought a copy for us to read to our kids on Christmas Eve and also bought a copy for each of my best friends and their kids. If I happen to win I’ll just pass it on to someone else in the family!! Thanks again for sharing the book!
Beautiful. Thanks for the chance!
Thank you for the opportunity! I will be adding this to our wish list should I not be a lucky winner!
I requested this book at our library after you first posted about it. We’re still on the list, hahaha. Hopefully we’ll get a turn to read it before Christmas.
What a beautiful book!!! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful illustrations!
beautiful book!!!
I just LOVE Lauren Castillo’s work. Cheers to her new Christmas book! You chose lovely pieces to showcase. Thanks~!
Awesome giveaway. After you recommended this book a couple weeks back, I did something I don’t think I’ve ever done before: ordered a copy from Amazon sight unseen–or rather, unread. (Usually, we only buy the kids picture books that have been borrowed from the library repeatedly.)
I was not disappointed. My kids love it, and I bought another copy for my little nephew for Christmas. I may just have to get a third for our church nursery, as our church puts on a live nativity every year. Thank you for the recommendation. It’s a lovely book.
Oh! would I love to win this for my girls!! Love that the text is right out of the Bible!!
babysickler(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’d love to read this book & share it too.
This book is amazing…and I completely agree about the architecture…just beautiful! I would love to share this with my two little girls! Fingers crossed for luck!
Beautiful illustrations, beautiful story. I would love to own this book. I love your book reviews-thanks for sharing. This book reminds me of going to see the nativity with my family. Thanks for the opportunity.
Those illustrations are wonderful!
Love all Christmas books! I can’t wait until yours is published.
Lana
Fabulous illustrations
Would love to get a copy of this book
It looks like a darling Christmas book!
from another MICA-alum. but I’m a bit older.
This book would be a lovely addition to our famil collection of Christmas books. My girls, ages 5, 3 and 1, plus the baby on the way, adore pouring over the book basket every evening of Advent.
Love, love!! Her illustrations are perfect. A perfect Christmas book to add to our collection!
I would love to share this book with the children in my preschool class!
Zoe0825@verizon.net
What a treat! I am totally in love with the picture book advent calendar idea!!
Such beautiful illustrations, I would love to win this.
Oh, I’d love one! It looks lovely!
This would be wonderful! My boys would love this and I love that the text is from the Bible!
Darling! I love those illustrations.
Such a charming book with beautiful illustrations!
I love this book and how it preserves the meaning of Christmas for our children. It’s also the perfect gift for any child. I plan to add this book to our Christmas book collection and read these to my daughter for many years to come.
This looks to be a lovely book for families, and it’s so generous of Lauren to donate copies to Romanian orphans. How heart-warming!
I’d love this book! I’m always on the prowl for new Christmas books and this one looks lovely!
I need two copies….I’m just gonna support this artist…and use my Knit Nite $ to
buy ‘em!
I have daydreams of reading books to me future children and have already started our children’s book collection. This would be such a great addition!
Such a lovely book with the most perfect message! P.S. Love your work too! Can’t wait to see your book!
This book looks great. I love that you highlight different authors, I’ve bought several of your suggestions and loved them all!
i would love to start building a christmas book collection with this beautiful book. love that the words come straight from the bible!
Lovely book! My girls would love it!
Beautiful, beautiful book! How my (7!) grandchildren would love it!!
Cute illustrations!
Marissa and I LOVE it that children from the orphanage are getting copies of this book that has text straight from the Bible!!
What a beautiful book for our family! Would love to add to our holiday traditions.
This would be a lovely addition to our Christmas book collection!
Love Love Love Christmas books. This one is especially beautiful. I am anxiously awaiting yours.
We need a new Christmas book for our home library. This one looks just perfect!
Oh, man, do I want this book!
What a lovely book with lovely illustrations!
What a wonderful talent to bless the rest of us. Our young family would love to welcome such a prized gift!
When I initially saw this book, I immediately put it on my kids’ wish list. I know Grandma is getting it for them for Christmas. BUT I would love to have an autographed copy and be able to pass on our “regular version” to someone else!
What fantastic illustrations!
Fingers and toes crossed… I have a 4 year old who is completed immersed in the magic of Christmas this year, and would love to cozy up with such a lovely book.
Our baby boy celebrates his first christmas with us, what a memorable experience to read and keep his first chrissy book. Lovely illustrations and an autograph sounds precious too! hope santa delivers to australia..extra carrots and cookies will be left out!
Wow! I would LOVE this book! I do hope I can give my children a signed copy for Christmas! Happy Holidays!!
I’ve been wanting this book since your post on it earlier… unfortunately my library doesn’t have it. But maybe I’ll win a copy??? : ) Thanks for the giveaway!
What a sweet book. Thanks for introducing it to me. It reminds me of some of your work, which I love as well. Merry Christmas!
I love the look of this book!
So very precious! Love that the story’s only text is from the Bible.
How random that the snow plows woke me up this morning so that I could find this lovely book posting! What are the chances that I could be a winner in the giveaway? Pick me, pick me!
this book looks adorable, so cute and christmassy
Looks very cute
This book is beautiful! The illustration is just fantastic and I’d love to win! Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful book and giveaway!
The artwork is beautiful. I’d love to own this book!
I love this book. I bought it for the collection at the library where I work, but I still want a copy for myself!! How lovely that she’s giving away copies in Romania.
sarah! that book looks darling! happy holidays to you & yours ~
Would love this book for my little girl, Parker Jane!
Looks like an absolutely lovely book! I’m sure my children would love it!
This book looks just wonderful! Looking forward to reading it!
Oh what a lovely book ~ thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
I love these signed book giveaways best–thanks for sharing!
Such a lovely book!
I love picture books that tell the REAL Christmas story. The Grinch has it’s place, but I want my children to embrace the true meaning of Christmas.
Its so pretty! While I am excited about this book- I’m so excited for yours next year!!!
How exciting!! Great looking images. I love Christmas books.
Beautiful book! Merry Christmas
i love this book giveaway!
As a fellow Brooklyn illustrator, I have always collected children’s books of my own (I have a cherished autographed copy of Charles Santore’s Snow White as well). Now that we have a little girl who turns 2 next month, we have been steadily increasing our library. The one thing we don’t have is a great Christmas book! I would love a copy for her, to encourage her love for books and especially her love for art, something I’m always working on.
Thanks! Great work!
That is such a lovely book… I love collecting books and maybe one day children books if I’ll have a baby…
Wow. This book looks amazing! As a city girl, I love her attention to details, architecture, and buildings!
Thanks for sharing this suggestion. We hope the library gets a copy soon.
What a beautiful idea! we’ve got a little one on the way, it’s so fun planning what to share with him!
I love love love the illustrations. It’s beautiful and I would love to read this book to my children.
Romanian children greatly need the gospel and what a blessing this book will be to them! I can’t wait to get a copy of my own!
What a sweet book! I’d love to have a copy for my little girls!
I love Christmas books- even better ones with great pictures
This looks so sweet, my girls would love it!
Oh, so sad I missed this one! THe illustrations are beautiful. May just have to add it to our collection.
What precious illustrations!! We’d love a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love illustrated Christmas books so much – especially ones that share the real meaning of Christmas.
I completely agree about the architecture in her drawings, it is really well done!
Lovely illustrations! I collect children’s book for an advent activity, so this would be a fabulous addition. Thank you.
What a fun giveaway – thank you
I love Christmas books. Especially when you can cuddle with your little ones and read about this special time of year!
Too bad I’m too late to enter the giveaway, but I’ll have to add this book to my wish list – it looks wonderful!