Yule Love ‘Christmas Steve & Carol’
• In 2017 we first told you about The Tale of Christmas Steve, the holiday children’s book about a small elf with a big heart, written by Rich Berra, the “Rich” half of the Premiere-syndicated Johnjay and Rich Show. We are pleased to report that Rich has now penned a sequel — Christmas Steve Meets Christmas Carol tells the story of a 6′ 2′-tall elf girl named Carol who, while big on the outside, is scared on the inside to let her talents shine. With a little help from Christmas Steve, Carol learns what happens when you let go of fear and start dreaming out loud.
Just like the first book, proceeds from the sale of Christmas Steve Meets Christmas Carol go to the #LoveUp Foundation — a nonprofit 501c3 organization co-founded by Berra and his on-air partner, Johnjay Van Es — which helps foster children and families in need. Since 2017, Berra has donated nearly $50,000 in book-generated profits to the #LoveUp Foundation. This year, with the arrival of Christmas Carol, Berra is implementing a buy-one, give-one campaign: for every book purchased at christmassteve.org, a second book will be donated to a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a Title 1 school or one of #LoveUp’s affiliated programs.
RAMP caught up with Berra, who told us, “A lot of people think it’s weird that I write books. And we have no proof whatsoever that Johnjay can read at all. So, I told him it was really awesome and he’s all behind it.” But seriously, Berra added, “What I’m excited about is the buy-one, give-one deal, so… you buy a great timeless holiday classic, I donate the proceeds to #LoveUp, and we send another book to children in need. I’m no math major, but that’s like giving five times or something. Add it up. I think that works.”
In addition to these two hilarious and heartwarming children’s books, Berra’s Christmas Steve brand has now expanded to include fashion t-shirts with funny elf sayings, kids’ and baby clothing, natural wood toys and more elf-themed merchandise. Illustrated by Design Art Studio and published by Branded Pros, the 32-page hardcover book retails for $17.99. For more information about the buy-one, give-one campaign or to make a purchase, visit christmassteve.org.
