Local businesswomen, and authors, Stephanie Matolyak and Deborah Bailey recently were notified by Chanticleer International Books that their children’s book, A Farm Animals’ Christmas: No Ordinary Farm, has made the SHORT LIST of the 2021 Little Peeps Book Awards novel competition for Early Readers! Published in November of 2020, A Farm Animals’ Christmas is a proudly silly children’s story of rescue animals on a real-life farm, waiting for Christmas to arrive.
“Matolyak and Bailey’s playful children’s story celebrates the animals Matolyak has rescued, with cows, chickens, goats, birds, and cats starring in this holiday-themed adventure. While eagerly awaiting the arrival of Christmas, the furry and feathered friends play in the snow, enjoying each other’s company and indulging in a variety of snacks. Actual photographs of the sanctuary’s animals grace each page, with thought balloons giving them amusing remarks, such as the cow with its snout buried in a feed bucket declaring “We’re having buckets of fun being together!” or a turkey, cat, and rabbit contemplating what would be their ideal Christmas present. This jolly and supremely silly book is about having a good time, and it would make a fun addition to any young animal lover’s holiday library.” — Booklife, May 2021 Review
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Early Readers. The Little Peeps Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards looks for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience for Early Readers: Story books, Beginning Chapter Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Educational Books.
The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalist positions. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference April 9th, 2022 (CAC22).
A Farm Animals’ Christmas: No Ordinary Farm is available online at Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, BarnesandNoble, Facebook through the book’s page @afarmanimalschristmas, and locally in various shops and stores, including Penny Lane Candy and VanGorders in Hawley, Brick House and Alice’s Wonderland in Greeley, and Agway in Honesdale. The public can also purchase a copy of the book at Bailey Design and Advertising located at 3305 Lake Ariel Highway in Honesdale. An E-book version is also available on Amazon.com. For more information about the book and authors call 570-251-1512 or email stephaniesfarm@yahoo.com.
About the authors—
Originally from Johnstown, PA, Stephanie Matolyak, a top-rated area realtor for nineteen years, brings her “Personal Touch” to her real estate business by creating an annual Christmas card based on her farm and the animals, which all of her clients look forward to every year. “A Farm Animals’ Christmas: No Ordinary Farm” children’s book is based on these holiday cards. Stephanie’s eclectic rescues frolic together in the fields at her dream farm, aptly named “Stephanie’s Farm”, where their humorous antics, funny and surreal, are captured with her camera and pen.
Local businesswoman Deborah Bailey and her graphic design agency have received many graphic design awards and honors over the years. She is the creative artist behind Stephanie Matolyak’s custom “Stephanie’s Farm” annual Christmas Cards for her real estate business. Teaming up with Stephanie to write and illustrate A Farm Animals’ Christmas: No Ordinary Farm was just a natural fit for her. With her love of graphic design and animals, Deborah sets the backdrop of A Farm Animals’ Christmas: No Ordinary Farm with silly photo illustrations bringing any early reader into the world of rescued animals having a good time and waiting for Christmas. Every page is brimming with color and her collages of “real” pictures of animal action, with delightfully funny scenes.