Marghanita

We have just returned home after a wonderful Christmas Tree Hunt. Like all our past Christmas’s, we wanted to go on a Tree Hunt. Part of a Christmas ritual with us is to hunt down a real tree from a local tree farm. It’s really important to us to shop locally and support local farmers and crafters. We believe buying a real tree is better for the environment.
Fake trees are made with polyvinyl chloride (or PVC, otherwise known as vinyl), one of the most environmentally offensive forms of non-renewable, petroleum-derived plastic.
We will take our real tree to be recycled into mulsh in early January.
Every little bit helps and we all feel better for it.

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Time is running out for us mums that still have to find those little extras for the kids, something that isn’t plastic and made in China. A wooden spinning top or a handmade finger puppet would be ideal. Trying to go a bit greener this Christmas shouldn’t be so hard. It does mean you have to hunt that little bit harder but it really is worth it. As the festive season approaches my concerns for the environment grow stronger. All that wrapping paper, all the excess food and not to mention the huge strain on our electricity resources to light up everyone’s home. With my new kids project, the Little Humbugs, I am trying to get a simple message over to young children that they can help take care of their environment, after all it’s their future.

In the latest episode Butterfly Girl helps recycle the Christmas wrapping paper by making Christmas crackers. If we can get kids interested early enough hopefully it would make them environmentalists for life. Every little bit helps.

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Wow, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my fist post. Toffee the highland cow is my first children’s book character. One of my titles “Toffee’s Bug Hunt” was read on the CBeebies “Bedtime Story” slot by the wonderful Hamish Clark.

I was fortunate to work with Hamish Clark in Edinburgh when I chose him to narrate Toffee’s animation pilot for TV. He was wonderful to work with and had us all in stitches. He really brought my book character to life. I look forward to working with him again in the not too distant future.

I cannot believe this little book character I created almost 4 years ago, has allowed me to experience things I never thought I would. From visiting schools in Brooklyn, New York where I ran storytelling artwork shops with the most delightful young kids to having the run of both Edinburgh and Glamis Castle for special Toffee the Highland Cow events. Meeting the most incredibly interesting people and being invited to festivals and castles. I would tell everyone who wanted to write or illustrate children’s books to go for it. Even if you don’t get published, and nowadays it is getting harder and harder, you will have produced a story that you have created. That you can share with your children, grand-children, friends and even strangers. You will have a fantastically wonderful time creating it!

Toffee’s Bug Hunt by Marghanita Hughes

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