My pastor asked me to read a children's book for church this Sunday. (Last year, I read Patricia Polacco's Christmas Tapestry, though I summarized some parts so it didn't last over a half hour!) I got the first four books below at the Hennepin County Library but wasn't super excited by any of them. Then I visited the Savage branch of the Scott County Library yesterday and found the last two. Here are my thoughts.
Birthday Party for Jesus by Susan Jones, illustrated by Lee Holland
A bunch of woodland animals are planning a birthday party for Jesus and Little Bunny wonders what he should bring. Toys? Candy? Games? Then he sees that the other animals have wrapped gifts with tags like peace, faith, mercy, kindness, etc. Aha! Now he knows what to bring for Jesus' birthday. Cute art, simple story, great for a younger (preschool) audience.
The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol illustrated by Anna Vojtech
I didn't listen to the CD included (narration and songs by Rebecca St. James), but this is a lovely little story from the animals' points of view. It is simple, with rhyming text and lovely illustrations.
Who Built the Stable? by Ashley Bryan
Gorgeous, vibrant illustrations make this my favorite visually. The simple text rhymes and is very kid-friendly. My favorite two-page spread: "Was Jesus born in Italy, Russia, Spain, Japan? / No! He was born in Bethlehem, a rich and verdant land." (Not that kiddos will know what "verdant" means . . . but I like it!)
Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
This one didn't have a super-strong message, but I liked it all the same. Grace likes Christmas with just her, her mother, and her Nana. But this year, some stranded travelers will join them. Grace doesn't want to share her home and traditions with them, but she learns to open her heart and show compassion. It's a beautiful story, but the acting-out of the nativity scene (and the sharing message) weren't explicit enough for what I wanted to share.
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
I liked this one, but even the thought of cute little storybook mice make me think of the actual rodents . . . which I do NOT like (or their poops, which they leave everywhere). Mortimer wants a cozier place to stay than his hole in the wall. He finds it, but has to lug and tug some "statues" out of the way first. Every evening, he removes them and curls up in the hay (in the manger) and each day someone puts them back. Then he hears the dad share the Bible story of Jesus' birth. Mortimer is sad, but realizes that the manger is for Jesus, not him. But joy! Someone has put out a gingerbread house - perfect for Mortimer!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
This is the one I'm reading this year! Toomey has been nicknamed "Gloomy" by the town's children. He's always grumpy, taciturn, stooped . . . even though he's an amazing wood carver. His past unfolds as he works on a project . . . it's so beautiful! I can read it with good pacing in under 18 minutes, but I have to work on reading it without crying. Perfect!
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