Orphaned Kitten Explains True Meaning of Christmas

Candace Braun

A singer, songwriter, and musician, Princeton resident Bill Collins recently decided to add "author" to the list by publishing his first children's book, Bob's First Christmas.

The book teaches children about the true meaning of Christmas through the story of Bob, an orphaned kitten who helps take care of his brothers in an abandoned car until they are each adopted out to a home. The last one in the shelter, Bob is taken to a home during Christmas time, where he learns that the selfless love he has shown to his brothers is the true meaning behind the tree, decorations, and songs associated with the holiday.

Mr. Collins began to brainstorm his book shortly after bringing home his own black cat named Bob, who came into his life three years ago when he went Christmas shopping at an animal shelter in Mount Holly. His wife had asked for a female orange kitten as a gift, and Mr. Collins was able to find two there. After giving the shelter his information, he was told to come back in 24 hours, after they had done a background check.

When Mr. Collins returned, the two orange kittens were gone, and only one remained: "He was black and he was male; the opposite of everything my wife wanted. But I took to him immediately and I brought him home."

Soon the man and cat became best friends, and Mr. Collins was inspired to write his story.

"Bob doesn't know what it is to be upset or angry. He has the perfect temperament," Mr. Collins said, adding that the cat's kind, gentle, and well-behaved nature was what first caught his attention and made him want to write the book.

"At first I was just writing it for my own entertainment," he said, adding that after he started to pursue the book seriously it took much longer than anticipated.

The author also illustrated the 47-page book, which ends with a picture of Bob with a blue tear in his eye, as he realizes the love and selflessness represented by Christmas.

When he tried writing the story with the format of a beginning, a middle, and an end, he had trouble piecing together the ideas he wanted to convey. However, once he stopped thinking like a writer and started thinking about the emotions he wanted to convey to his reader, the book started coming together.

His 20-year-old son also contributed, reminding his father to think about how he had explained the meaning of Christmas to him as a child.

While he wrote the book for children, Mr. Collins said he wanted it to be based in reality, so that the message that came across was clear: "I've found that adults enjoy it as much as children, maybe even more, because they relate to the story and the feeling of the story."

A Princeton resident for nine years, Mr. Collins works four nights a week as the overnight operator at the University Medical Center at Princeton. On the weekends he performs music which he calls "contemporary jazz with a pop flavor." This week he will be performing at the annual Army Navy gala at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The author will be speaking about his book on Patriot Media's Patriot 8 channel next week. Residents can view the program on Thursday, December 9, at 9 p.m., and Friday, December 10, at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. A five-minute segment will also run on CNN Headline News on December 9, beginning at 4:54 p.m.

For more information or to order a copy of Bob's First Christmas, visit www.free webs.com/bcoll/, or email bobthecat@verizon.net for a signed copy.