Living in apartments without fireplaces can be challenging for families with young children around the holidays – whether in cold climates or not.

Many communities are without in-unit fireplaces, mainly to avoid disasters. According to the 2021 American Housing Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 8% of the 37.9 million rental apartments have a fireplace. 

Children’s author Christine DerOhannesian was one of those parents looking to bridge the gap. Several years ago, she created a book for moms and dads with small children who live in apartments without a fireplace.

She charitably distributes this book to military housing communities managed by Balfour Beatty and others through West Point, and Charleston Combined Services to name a few, and inner-city schools.

Since launching her first edition of the storybook in 2015; she has donated nearly 10,000 books and will selectively do so again this year.

“Military families are always moving, and this book helps them to solidify a great holiday celebration,” says Rick Walls, Executive Director, Towns4Troops, who invited DerOhannesian to present before the Director of the Center for Oral History at West Point.

“Christine reads the book to the children in an uplifting voice. She truly believes in it. Her smile is genuine, and she is so inclusive with the young ones.”

DerOhannesian has also spoken and donated to groups such as Army Families at West Point and the U.S. Marines Families of Stewart Air National Guard Base.

“This book was birthed from my real-life experience in a home without a fireplace with my own young children,” DerOhannesian says.

“When the magical moment worked with them, I quickly realized how many other families were in my position and would appreciate the same joy in the holiday tradition.”