Angels & All Children: A Nativity Story in Words, Music, and Art [Hardcover]

Walter Wangerin (Author), Randy Courts (Author), Tim Ladwig (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

The world is stuck at midnight. People have turned from God and covered their land in darkness deeper than night. All the children are sleeping, and all the parents are sad. But God loves this world. And God sends a baby—born in a manger—to bring morning light to the darkness. And God sends angels to awaken the children ....

Here is a uniquely beautiful Christmas book and CD—a story with words, images, and carols that families will tell and sing again and again.

Includes bonus suggestions for ways families and groups can use the story and songs to create lasting Christmas traditions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wangerin (previously paired with Ladwig for Probity Jones and the Fear-Not Angel) envisions a musical stage production of the Nativity, to be performed by families as well as church and school groups. The premise may offend many readers: because they have "turned away from God" and rejected His commandments, "the people" are living in darkness, their children unable to wake from sleep. But when God sends Jesus into the world, the people experience a great light and renew their faith. Ladwig's oils are suitably theatrical, but all in all, the results here are off-key. Ages 7-12.included.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This lengthy retelling of the Nativity story begins with God's decision to send the dark, faithless world a savior ("`No, no, this is not good,' he said. `It's time to make time tick again, time to turn the land from night to morning.'" It includes Gabriel's visit to Mary and her incredulous response ("-I can't have [a baby], on account of, I'm not married"). Joseph's initial reaction "to put her away from him" ("I hate this. Oh, but I have to do it") is mitigated when Gabriel again visits and persuades him to change his mind (Joseph giggles). Incongruously, the denouement pictures the baby Jesus in the manger surrounded by contemporary children. While this title represents an evangelical point of view, it is repetitive, anachronistic, and heavy-handed.-S. P.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Pr (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806637129
• ISBN-13: 978-0806637129
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,586,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Starting with the renowned Book of the Dun Cow, Wangerin's writing career has encompassed most every genre: fiction, essay, short story, children's story, meditation, and biblical exposition. His writing voice is immediately recognizable, and his fans number in the millions. The author of over forty books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and several Gold Medallions, including best-fiction awards for both The Book of God and Paul: A Novel. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An accompanying dramatic audio CD features happy songs, August 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels & All Children: A Nativity Story in Words, Music, and Art (Hardcover)

Impressively illustrated by Tim Ladwig, Angels & All Children: A Nativity Story In Words, Music, And Art is a beautiful full color picturebook about the birth of Jesus Christ. Angels bring the joyous news of the Holy Spirit's blessing to Mary, soon to be the Mother of Christ, and love and celebration abound in this gentle, wondrous, gorgeously presented book. Written by Walter Wangerin, the text is of an intermediate reading level, and an accompanying dramatic audio CD features happy songs by Randy Courts in a deeply spiritual story about the true meaning of Christmas. Angels & All Children would make a prized addition to any family, Sunday School, or parochial school children's book collection.