WEST ALEXANDRIA — Children’s author and Kentucky native Shannon Clark visited the Twin Creek Tea Room to talk about her upcoming faith-based children’s book series, Angels Above. Clark was inspired by her son to write a novel celebrating faith and messages from above.
She describes herself as “first and foremost” a mother to two children, a daughter and a son. They are the reason she wrote the book.
She said, “Last Christmas, when I was putting the decorations away, about a week after Christmas I was putting our family Nativity scene in a box, and my son who was five years old at the time, he looked at me and said, ‘Why are you putting Jesus in a box?’ I told him that Christmas was over and we would get it out again next year. He said, ‘Well, I want to keep it in my room.’”
She agreed to let him and he still has it in his bedroom.
“It made me realize,” she began, “That it gives him comfort. He felt protected, just having it in his room. That moment made me start thinking how other children might respond the same way.”
She thought that children having a tangible symbol of faith might make them feel comforted.
She came up with the idea to write Angels Above. “It is a children’s book about an angel friend who comes to the children. The Children can name it, but the idea is that the angel came to earth to be by their side and encourage them. It is a very playful story.”
The book comes as a set, including a plush angel. It is going to be a series, as she has already written two additional books, with the overarching story that the angels are messengers come to help children. She said, “It will basically encourage children to be kind and giving and make a difference. The premise of the book is that the angels want their light to shine through the children.”
The series has been compared to the popular Elf on the Shelf series, but unlike the Elf, the Angel can be touched and there are no rules to having an Angel. The Angel can be whatever the child needs it to.
At the Tea Room event, Clark actually introduced her Buddy Box. It is a package that comes with a wooden mailbox to leave messages in. The parents can leave the messages or the Angel can, it is up to the parents and child.
She added, “The Angels in the book are of course symbolic. They are to remind the children of God’s presence in their lives.”
“Moving forward,” she said. “I really want the Angels to bring messages so my kids will play with a purpose. I’m going to give them little challenges, little things that will encourage children to do good things in the world.”
According to Clark, the response has been overwhelming. The series is just getting started, as she just got the books at the end of December. The series is in 50 stores throughout the United States, as well as on the website. They were actually nominated for the Best Toys for Kids List through ASTRA.
“It’s something that is year round and could mean something different to every kid. It could be a gift for any holiday or no occasion at all. We have a version for babies and a version for older kids. It’s something that they can keep with them, it’s a keepsake,” she said.
