John Brooks releases the first in a five book children’s holiday series, Bobby Bright’s Greatest Christmas Ever. Illustrated by five former Disney/Warner Bros/Hannah-Barbera animation artists, with movie credits like Toy Story and Lion King, this story about a special little Christmas tree light bulb will truly makes your holidays shine!

Bobby Bright’s Greatest Christmas Ever

John R. Brooks
Old Farm Press (2006)
ISBN 9780978822705
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (11/06)


This adorable story starts out in a Christmas light bulb factory where a strand of lights is shocked with an electrical charge and one of the light bulbs, named Bobby, is infused with magical powers.  The strand of lights is purchased by Mr. and Mrs. McGillicuddy and over the next nine years, instead of being placed on the front of the tree, end up at the back of the tree.

On the tenth year Bobby decided that things need to change. He and his family, whom all talk in Bulbese, were tired of always being placed in the back and never given the opportunity to shine and be admired.  Bobby’s magical powers gave him the ability to understand human talk and translated to his family what was happening and being said by Mr. and Mrs. McGillicuddy.

While in the process of decorating the Christmas tree a chain of events happen for Mr. and Mrs. McGillicuddy, some humorous, some sad.  By the looks of the events the Bright family string of bulbs will end up on the back of the tree again.

Bobby, the brightest of the Bright family, comes up with a plan.  He is bound and determined that this year the string of bulbs will not end up at the back of the tree nor will they go unnoticed. Implementing his plan, Bobby creates a way to get noticed.  It’s not an easy maneuver for a Christmas light bulb, however, because of Bobby’s magical powers his plan works.

With anticipation of what will happen next, the Bright family does have an opportunity to shine and be noticed this year, especially when Mr. and Mrs. McGillicddy’s son, his wife, and grandson, Remmington, arrive for Christmas. Remmington notices that the bulbs on the special tree set up in his room are very different from others.  And, different they are.

‘Bobby Bright’s Greatest Christmas Ever” is a fun chapter book to read to children.  The story teaches imagination, determination, creativity, and most of all, that if you believe that you can do it, you can. And, after reading this story you will always wonder if you have that special magical strand of Christmas tree lights mixed in with all the others.  You probably do, and who knows, maybe this Christmas, you too will experience the magical powers of the lights. I’m sure I will.