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What was your first impression?
This hardback book is not for the very young child. The illustrations
are ‘older’ than in some of the nativity books I have reviewed. Also
the text is more complex and longer. But it is beautifully written and
children from age four upwards will love this retelling.
What's it about?
The back cover says the story captures the joy and wonder of the very
first Christmas for a new generation of readers. It really does, it is
a captivating text, even for an adult. The story begins when an angel
appears to Mary to tell her of her forthcoming child and ends when
Joseph and Mary with their baby enter Egypt to escape from the king.
What did you like about it?
I liked everything about it, I really did. The drawings show as much
beautiful detail as the retelling of the story and I couldn’t help but
be captivated by both. I also found that my seven year old and my five
year old were satisfied by all the extra detail that they could add to
their understanding of the story.
What didn't you like?
Nothing.
What will you still remember a year from now?
This book will recapture Christmas and the birth of Jesus for us for many years to come.
Who would you recommend this book to?
I would recommend this book to godparents of children aged over four,
to parents, to grandparents, to Sunday Group leaders who could read it
to their groups (the pages and pictures are big enough to successfully
read to a group of children) and to anyone who knows a child who should
know the truth of this celebration.
Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?
When they finally saw the ancient town of Bethlehem ahead of them, Mary
felt relieved. But Joseph could tell from a distance that the town was
unusually crowded. There were people everywhere. The whole town was
like a market place.
Many miles away in another country, some wise men were studying the
stars. They searched through ancient charts and documents, until they
were certain that what they had seen in the sky was true. A bright new
star shone in the night sky. It had appeared suddenly and without
warning. It was bigger and brighter than any other star in the universe.
review by Hilary
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