Celebrations Around the World, a newly published children's book by Marcia Harvey Elovich, delivers a joyful message of friendship, curiosity, and cultural respect. Told through the eyes of two best friends, Amity and Autumn, young readers are invited on a globe-spanning adventure to explore how children worldwide celebrate their holidays.
The story contains heartfelt letters from pen pals across continents, each one sharing their own traditions and stories about important holidays in their culture. Whether it's Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year, or Christmas, the book reveals that while traditions may differ, the spirit of celebration, family, and love is universal.
"I wanted to capture the innocence and wonder of global friendships," said author Marcia Harvey Elovich. "When children hear directly from other children around the world, they realize that our differences are not barriers—they're bridges."
The book's origins are deeply personal. Inspired by her now-retired children's website, The Global Pen Pals, Elovich began writing stories based on real-life pen pal letters exchanged with families from across the globe. With her fictional duo, Amity Anderson and Autumn Woods, she transformed these multicultural experiences into engaging narratives for young readers.
"Some of the stories are based on letters I received from friends in faraway countries. I'd adapt them for kids, always keeping the heart of their traditions alive," Elovich explained. "It became clear to me that sharing these cultural celebrations through a child's eyes was a powerful way to build empathy and awareness."
Marcia Harvey Elovich's storytelling roots go back to her childhood. Born in Southern California in 1947, she was often indoors due to asthma, keeping company with her imagination, dolls, and a love for drawing and writing. Later, as a mother, nurse, and school para-educator, she brought this same creativity into classrooms by forming a reading and art club to welcome immigrant students through shared storytelling and heritage.
The culmination of these experiences shines through in Celebrations Around the World, a book lovingly written for curious minds and open hearts.
Celebrations Around the World stands out in today’s children’s literature for one key reason: it centers the voices of children worldwide. Young readers hear directly from kids like themselves—sharing what it's like to prepare for the Christmas feast in Uganda by selecting a chicken in early October and ensuring its well-fed, clean the house for Chinese New Year by getting rid of old things and buying new things, fast during Ramadan, or light candles for Hanukkah, or toss water during Songkran.
Perfect for classrooms, libraries, and bedtime reading, the book offers a meaningful way to introduce children to world cultures and holidays with warmth and understanding. It's ideal for readers aged 6–11 and is a valuable resource for educators and parents wanting to foster cultural literacy and global awareness.
About the Author
Marcia Harvey Elovich lives in Washington State, where she continues to write and draw inspiration from her grandchildren and her years in education. Her creative spark was first lit under the quilt frames of her grandmother's sewing circle and has since grown into a lifelong commitment to storytelling, learning, and connection.
In addition to her writing, Elovich has worked as a para-educator and school nurse, always championing inclusive, hands-on learning. Her school club, originally called the American Girls Club, became the American Girls and Boys Club to reflect the wide interest of all students and the richness of their diverse heritages. That same inclusive spirit now fills the pages of her new book.