Shildon born author, Joe Coates has published his new book There is Something Special Tonight in Bethlehem this month.

Joe is well known for his North Bay Tales books, based on the North Bay Railway in Scarborough.

Using the same book design and format, Joe is retelling the Nativity story, which features illustrations for readers to colour in, and he hopes this will be the first of a series of Bible tales.

As a retired primary school teacher, Joe has a lot of experience in storytelling in various schools. He has read his version of the story, in previous years, at various Christmas events in the theatre and church and will, once more, be telling the tale in various schools during the advent season.

The story is told traditionally, focussing on the emotions of the people involved – particularly the shepherds, Mary and Joseph.

As an older teenager in Shildon in the 1960s, Joe attended the youth club (and an occasional chapel service) at what was then known as the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at the top of Main Street, and was delighted recently to meet up with Revd. Emma Morgan and her husband Graham – both now in ministry at Scarborough – after a time at the same Methodist church in Shildon.