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Local Radio Show Host Rich Berra Releases Holiday Books for Kids

You hear him every weekday Dr. Seuss, these beautifully illustrated buy-one, give-one campaign, where basically a 6-year-old with car keys morning on 104.7 KISS FM’s hardcover books weave in subtle every book purchased is matched with anyway. Johnjay and Rich Show, but radio messages about relating to those who a second book, donated to children in host Rich Berra is also the author of are different and not being afraid to let need. WHAT DO YOU HOPE IS THE two wildly popular holiday children’s your talents shine. MESSAGE A CHILD WILL TAKE AWAY books. The Tale of Christmas Steve, We caught up with the author to ask a FROM YOUR BOOKS? released in 2017, and its sequel The books are available for $17.99 few questions about his inspiration and You may not feel like you always fit in, Christmas Steve Meets Christmas online at christmassteve.org as well as plans for the future. Here’s the story but you always belong. Being different Carol, released in 2019, tell the story at Bashas’, AJ’s and other Phoenix-area behind the stories. isn’t what holds you back, it’s what of a small elf named Steve and his stores. Berra donates the profits of the makes you special — great even. North Pole friends. In the tradition of books to charity and has initiated a WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO PUT

ASIDE YOUR MICROPHONE AND DO YOU PLAN TO ADD TO THE SERIES?

PICK UP A PEN? I do. Whenever we read for kids in first Well, I’d never willingly ever give up or second grade, they always want a microphone. Radio is my first love more. Some suggest Christmas Steve and I hope to be doing shows well visit other holidays. Why not? So who into my mid-100’s. Part of being on a knows where Christmas Steve and his radio show involves being creative and elf friends might show up next. writing is a similar expression.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR PROCEEDS FROM BOOK SALES. TELL THESE STORIES? US MORE.

I’d make up stories for my kids at I didn’t want to just write a book and bedtime sort of on the fly. They sell it. I wanted to see if a good story remembered from one Christmas could also do some good. We donate to the next that I made up a story this year to Boys & Girls Clubs of the about an elf named Christmas Steve. Valley and of course to #LoveUp, a I thought I should write that down so charity my radio partner Johnjay and I I could remember for the next year. I founded, which focuses on kids living started writing it, and it reminded me in the foster care system. So far, we’ve of writing song lyrics with the way it donated nearly $80,000 directly from rhymed and flowed. A new book was sales of the books. born.

WE UNDERSTAND YOU DONATE THE

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO DO A BUY WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT ONE, GIVE ONE WITH YOUR BOOKS?

WRITING FOR KIDS? There are lots of kids that don’t ever I think there’s a subtle art to being silly get to buy books. Branded Pros, my and fun, and sliding in a message of publisher, was kind enough to donate hope and encouragement. You can’t their earnings from the book to allow us go too far either way. They will sniff it to help give books to children in need. out and hunt you down. But overall, It’s pretty cool what these books have it’s not that hard, probably because I’m done all on their own.

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