Northampton teacher proud to shout about self-published children’s Christmas book centred on self-acceptance
A Northampton teacher is proudly shouting about her self-published children’s Christmas book, which is centred on self-love, acceptance and not changing yourself to fit in.
Amanda Ribano is the author of ‘No One Likes Brussels Sprouts’ following the story of a vegetable struggling to find its place on the dinner table, which was brought to life by illustrator Edina Lloyd.
Talking to the Chronicle & Echo about her journey to becoming a self-published author, Amanda said: “It was an accident really. I was at a Christmas fair maybe six or seven years ago, and I saw someone selling a book they’d self-published.
“I couldn’t believe it and wondered how you could do something so cool. I decided to have a go and I went home that night and the story fell out of me. As a primary school teacher, I read a lot of children’s books but never thought I’d write one.”
The book did not get published until 2025 and as every Christmas passed, Amanda said to herself that she was going to do something about the story she typed up in the notes on her phone.
“I read it to the children at school but time passed and life got in the way,” said Amanda. “That was until two years ago when I was in the playground and looked at the beautiful mural. I remembered the lady who did it was a parent of a child at our school and an illustrator.”
Edina was on board with the project and Amanda says having someone to work alongside held her to account, which resulted in the publication within the second half of last year.
“The book is about realising it’s okay to be yourself and be proud of who you are,” said Amanda. “The sprout is sad at Christmas as he feels like no one will choose him, but then he realises he doesn’t need to blend in and every vegetable is special in their own way.”
The book is aimed at children aged four to eight but with gorgeous pictures and rhymes throughout, Amanda says her two-year-old niece loves it and older children she has read it to at school have equally enjoyed it.
“An adult told me it gave them a warm fuzzy feeling like when they watch The Snowman,” Amanda continued. “The children in my class love it and one of the parents crocheted me a brussels sprout like in the book for Christmas.”
Amanda is hosting a celebration event to mark a year since the book was self-published at Jeyes of Earls Barton, as the business was the first to stock it. During the day of the event on October 30, Amanda will be doing some author readings and her loved ones will then join her in the evening for a private celebration.
As a singer-songwriter who works closely alongside well-renowned Northampton musician Billy Lockett, Amanda has also written a song to accompany the book and this will be performed on the day.
Amanda’s plan is to give back to the community by linking up with a variety of charities to donate copies of her book to less fortunate children.
The children’s author has proudly written another story about a football, which is based in a school, and Edina is currently in the process of illustrating the pictures using her mixed media and collage style with a view to it being self-published in 2027.
The year four teacher from Kingsthorpe hopes to visit as many primary schools across Northamptonshire as possible to do readings over the festive period, and she encourages anyone interested to get in touch.