Animals Christmas Carol [Hardcover]

Helen Ward (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Templar Book

Many different animals come to bestow their own special gifts on the newborn Christ Child. An original song inspired by "The Friendly Beasts."

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the most stylish of this year's beast-based Nativity picture books, arresting, meticulously detailed ink-and-watercolor portraits of animals receive gold accents while varying fonts set off different aspects of the text. One by one, various creatures pledge their services to the baby Jesus sleeping in the nearby manger. Readers won't mind the few rough spots in Ward's (The Hare and the Tortoise) rhyming verse, inspired by a French Christmas carol with roots in the 12th or 13th century; they have plenty to admire in her finely wrought artwork. All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 1-In an original tale based on the Christmas carol "The Friendly Beasts," lyrical verse describes the humble gifts brought to the newborn Jesus by the lion, the peacock, the camels, the ram, the woodworm, etc. The gilded double-page spreads are large and quite lovely, with the attention to detail that characterizes Ward's work. The Christ child is never seen, but on the last spread, all of the creatures are gathered together to gaze upon his radiance in the stable. There are several other fine versions of this carol, but the appealing verse and sumptuous paintings make this one special.-E. M.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761314962
• ISBN-13: 978-0761314967
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 11.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,253,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides an animals' viewpoint of the birth of Christ, October 17, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Animal's Christmas Carol (Library Binding)

Helen Ward's lavish Christmas title, The Animals' Christmas Carol, is based on the medieval French carol and provides an animals' viewpoint of the birth of Christ in the manger. The animals provide a gentle lullaby and large-size inviting, warm color photos accompany their well wishes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animals Christmas Carol, February 13, 2008

By 

Jen Sawyer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animals Christmas Carol (Hardcover)

This book is a sweet take off on our family's much favorite Christmas Carol, "The Friendly Beasts". In the well known carol, the gifts to the Christ child, as given by the cow, the donkey, the sheep, and the camel, are described. But in this book, verses are added describing the gifts of many other animals which may have been present at Jesus' birth - even the humble woodworm is included, who contributed by not chewing on the wood of the manger. The story portrays the stillness, described in the Bible, of the night of the birth of our Saviour and how all the animals, under the command of God, heralded the birth through peaceful cooperation. The illustrations are beautiful. It is a story that my children love to read over and over again. And it always helps us to remember that God chose to enter the world not only in a humble stable, but surrounded by animals as the first witnesses. The first earthly gifts to God, as man, were given by animals, not wisemen and kings. This book is a true treasure. And for variety, the words may be sung instead of just read!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas "must have", January 14, 2011

By 

Sarah Ragland - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Animals Christmas Carol (Hardcover)

This book is not illustrated by Wayne Anderson, like many of Helen Ward's books, but is equally as stunning. It's a great book to read while snuggled up with your little one on Christmas Eve. We love Helen Ward!