MEANWHILE BACK AT THE MANGER: A Christmas Picture Book and Giveaway!

It is my pleasure to share my fellow Write2Ignite team member, Brenda Covert‘s, debut picture book, Meanwhile Back at the Manger (Ambassador International, 2025).

SYNOPSIS

Thomas is frustrated with his job in the stable, pushing around hay and cleaning up after the animals. Leaving his stable job behind, he starts a new job, night fishing with his friend. But meanwhile, back at the stable, something miraculous is happening that will change everything for the better.

This unique perspective of the Christmas story will open up young readers to see that even the mundane tasks we do matter to God. 

PODCAST

Kyle Morgan, the man behind the Write2Ignite podcast interviewed Brenda. I highly recommend listening to her episode to find out how 20 years of editing experience led to writing and publishing Meanwhile Back in the Manger.

Kathryn Dover, Write2Ignite‘s new blog coordinator, posted this review of the book:

“Meanwhile, Back at the Manger by Brenda Covert is a great read-aloud for parents, and older children will enjoy reading the story by themselves, too. The recommended audience is ages 4-8, and younger children will enjoy hearing the story as well. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful; I especially enjoyed looking at the different animals.

Children will enjoy following the dual storylines and be eagerly waiting to find out when Thomas will return to the stable and what will happen. The repetition of the book’s title, Meanwhile, Back at the Manger, helps the story stick with kids.

Also, children can learn from Thomas’s experience. Thomas doesn’t like his job at the stable and thinks that fishing will be more fun, but instead, it leaves him exhausted and stinking like fish. He wishes he had stayed at the stable and slept, and readers know all that he has missed while he was gone. Thomas’s experience reminds children to be content with where they are in life and that God can use the ordinary to do the extraordinary.

MORE QUESTIONS

I asked Brenda what else she wanted to say that didn’t make it into the podcast, and here are her answers.

What do you hope children (and parents) take away from this story? 

In addition to the wonder of Jesus’ birth, I hope they get the message that where you are may be exactly where God wants you to be, so be content! And that God sees you. There’s a scene where Thomas and his friend are out fishing, and Thomas confesses to feeling small and wondering whether God sees him. And his friend reminds him that some day the Messiah will come, and then Thomas will know that God sees him! Just a little foreshadowing of what is happening that very night. 

What advice would you give other writers who want to publish a picture book?

Join a writers group or a critique group, and attend writing conferences and/or interactive online master classes. Iron sharpens iron. Having writer friends to bounce your ideas off of is very helpful. The connections you’ll make will be important later. I’ve been able to reach out to established authors I met for help with questions I’ve had, and that’s where some endorsements for my book came from. My publisher asks authors to gather endorsements. That’s something that new authors may not know. I didn’t know that! At first I was apprehensive, and then I realized how many people in the writing community I actually knew! I even got an endorsement from Laura Sassi, whose Master Class sparked the idea for my book! Don’t exist in a void. Find other authors to learn and grow with, find authors who are happy to mentor you and encourage you. Find your tribe. I wouldn’t trade my critique group for anything!

Why did you choose the name Thomas?

I chose the name Thomas because I wanted a Bible name that isn’t the name of a book in the Bible. As a New Testament name, I felt that kids reading to themselves could decipher it. My Thomas isn’t the future disciple, but he would have more in common with “doubting Thomas.”

What’s next?
I’m working on Meanwhile Back at the Empty Tomb, which features a young girl whose father takes her to the crucifixion, believing they will witness the miracle of Jesus coming down off the cross. The story will split between the happenings at the tomb and scenes of those who are in hiding, fearing for their lives, before and after discovering that Jesus is truly risen from the dead, and I’ll share the wonder the young girl experiences as she witnesses the miracle of the empty tomb and the resurrected Messiah.

GIVEAWAY

Brenda is giving away a copy of Meanwhile Back at the Manger for one fortunate reader. Leave a comment by Wednesday, December 3, and you’re in the giveaway. For an extra chance, share this post on social media. Please let me know what you do in the comments. U.S. addresses only.