Help kids in hospital, in need & advance literacy.

Help me get

_Bear and Nosey's Christmas Wish_,

a story about family, belonging, friendship, love and perseverance,



to hospitals, families and kids in need, in Canada, including remote First Nations communities.


Your donation will help me purchase books and gift it to children in your name.

As I begin this exciting journey, I am partnering with schools, community service organizations and hospitals, to get this book to kids who can really benefit from receiving this story, to help raise their spirits, give them hope and help advance their reading skills. My ultimate goal is to broaden our reach, gifting books to children all across Canada.   

When I completed my manuscript some years ago, I knew that more than anything I wanted to see my book in the hands of children who are spending the holidays in hospitals. In recent months, with the arrival of COVID-19, I, like many others, found myself looking for work.  They say when one door closes another one opens.  For me that has meant I could complete my book, find an amazing illustrator, Jacqueline Molnar, and make my dream come true. Due to the pandemic, broadly distributing my book to children in hospitals is more challenging.  However, I am partnering with Joseph Brant Hospital, in Burlington, and I am donating over 50 copies of my book for their annual Joy Holiday Gift Box event. All proceeds will go to the Labour and Delivery Unit at Joseph Brant Hospital.





Now that I’ve started the ball rolling, please join me in getting many more books out there. Through nationwide literacy organizations, such as Frontier College, we can support reading circles and promote literacy all across Canada, including remote Indigenous Communities. Frontier College would love to receive hundreds of copies of  _ Bear and Nosey’s Christmas Wish__ for distribution.





There are also plenty of high needs neighbourhoods in the GTA.
Several school principals have expressed their interest in getting books for their students. With your help, I can get hundreds of books into the hands of children for the holidays, children who simply because of their life circumstances won’t be receiving gifts, let alone books.

My goal is to get over 150 books to hospitals, schools, community organizations and holiday drives, across Ontario and Canada, to reach children who need it the most.

I am forever grateful for your support of this dream. Thank you!


Book Review

“This is such an inspiring book because it is all about never giving up no matter how tough the situations and challenges you come across are.

There is friendship and love around you even at times when you don’t see it and this book shows you just how powerful they are.”

Bizou 12



A little about me

I am a linguist and a teacher and call Toronto home. My greatest joy comes from being a mom to my amazing 12-year-old daughter, and writing stories of all kinds, inspired by sunrises, sunsets, family and friends and my travels around the world. I love working with children and seeing their knowledge, creativity, resilience and kindness grow through stories they hear and read.



_Bear and Nosey’s Christmas Wish_, is the first in what I hope will be a series of children’s books, translated into several languages, accessible to all.      

Book Review

The story of Bear McQueen and Nosey, the elephant, is a treat not only at Christmas, but the whole year through.  I thoroughly enjoyed these sweet and quirky characters and their adventures, as they explore their world. 

There are subtle lessons about the true meaning of friendship, love, family and home, unobtrusively embedded in this heartwarming telling of the lives of our protagonists.  A transatlantic flight turns into an eventual homecoming, as it becomes clear what our furry little friends are really searching for is a sense of belonging. 

The writing strikes a balance of sophistication that will engage young children, their adult parents, grandparents, and anyone young at heart.  This page turner’s suspenseful plot keeps the reader’s interest with young readers’ sensibilities in mind, yet is equally engaging for older audiences, as well.  The author has crafted a wonderful children’s book that deftly intertwines elements of entertainment and education. 

The story comes full circle, leaving the reader feeling light and cheerful. The happy ending is likely only the beginning.  For kids’ sake I hope this is just the first of many adventures for our imaginative and creative, furry heroes.

Kay Brenders, Management Consultant, Leadership Coach and Editor