Christina Gabbitas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christina Gabbitas
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| Born | 7 December 1967 Blackburn, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Children's author, poet, storyteller, voiceover artist |
| Notable works | Felicity Fly; Share Some Secrets |
Christina Gabbitas (born 7 December 1967) is an English author who writes books, poems, and stories for children. She is also a storyteller and a voiceover artist. She is well-known for writing books that help young people understand and avoid dangers like knife crime.
Gabbitas grew up in Blackburn, Lancashire, and later moved to Yorkshire. As a child, she loved reading poetry and rhymes. She began writing her own stories after she had children. Many of her stories were created to help them with their fears, including some of the same fears she had when she was young.
Contents
Career as an Author
Books About Staying Safe
In 2019, Christina was asked by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside to write a story about serious issues affecting young people. She wrote a book called No More Knives to warn them about the dangers of knife crime and getting involved with criminal groups. The book was released in 2020 and was later made into an animation.
Christina visited many schools and literature festivals to talk about her work. In 2023, she worked with North Yorkshire Police to write a second book called Trapped in County Lines. She continues to visit schools and speak on the radio to raise awareness and help keep young people safe.
The Felicity Fly Series
In 2012, Gabbitas published her first book, Welcome To The World Of Felicity Fly. The story uses fun characters like a washing machine to talk about common childhood fears. It helps children see that it's normal to be scared sometimes and that they are not alone.
Soon after, she released Felicity Fly Meets Veronica Vac. This book also discusses childhood fears but adds a message about caring for and helping others. A year later, Felicity Fly In The Garden was published, which teaches kids about pollination. The fourth book, Felicity Fly Meets the Dragon Fruit and Friends (2015), is all about healthy eating.
Other Books for Children
Gabbitas wrote a book called Share Some Secrets in 2014. It helps children aged five to eight understand the difference between good secrets and secrets that might be harmful. The book encourages children to speak up if they are being treated badly. The NSPCC supported the book and added it to their library.
In 2017, students from Sheffield Hallam University turned Share Some Secrets into an animated film. For her work helping to protect children, Christina was made an Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council in 2018.
Another book, Triangular Trev and the Shape Idols (2016), is a rhyming story that makes learning about math terms fun. In 2018, she published Save Us, a book that raises awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans.
Special Projects
Christina has also been asked by different organizations to write stories for special purposes. In 2019, she worked with the York Castle Museum to create a story about some of the toys in their collection.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was asked by the Blackburn Business Improvement District to write a story about her hometown. The book was meant to support the town during a difficult time.
Charity Work
Gabbitas is a trustee for the Children's Literature Festival charity, which she founded. The charity's patrons include famous people like actress Jenny Agutter and musician Michael Bradley from the band The Undertones. The charity organizes free literature festivals for children and families in towns like Blackburn and Selby.
In 2023, Christina's charity work was recognized with two special honors. She was named a Coronation Champion for the coronation of King Charles III and also received a Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
Book Awards
- Felicity Fly meets Veronica Vac was a finalist in the People's Book Prize in 2014.
- In 2015, Gabbitas won the Dame Beryl Bainbridge First Time Author Award for a book of poetry.
- In 2016, she received the Sue Ryder Yorkshire Women of Achievement award for her work in education.
- Her book Share Some Secrets won the Best Achievement award at the People's Book Prize in 2019.
