My Own Little Christmas Story

September 1, 2013
This British import is a gentle, simplified retelling of the Nativity story for younger children, from a prolific author of Christian books for children. With just a few lines of text per page, the story is told in terms that youngsters can grasp. It unfolds in simple, logical steps, from the angel visiting Mary and Joseph through their journey to Bethlehem, followed by the birth of Jesus and the visits from the shepherds and the Magi. The conclusion offers a final, longer page of text that alludes to the family's departure for unspecified reasons, "so we can keep Jesus safe." This graceful retelling will serve well as a first storybook about the Nativity, as it goes slightly beyond the basic story of the birth in the stable and gives just enough age-appropriate information for the intended audience. Pleasant, cheery illustrations in a naive style use characters with simple, almost childlike faces and present a calming, optimistic atmosphere overall. The text is set in a larger font, also making this a suitable choice for beginning readers. A simple, satisfying presentation of the most important events in the Nativity story. (Picture book/religion. 3-7)

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