Customer Reviews

Baby Jesus Is Born (Candle Bible for Toddlers)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this for my just turned two-year-old to begin learning the Christmas story. It's a good book, and the story and pictures hold his attention. The only reason I gave it four stars is the last two pages go into King Herod wanting to kill baby Jesus, so Mary and Joseph take him to Egypt. I really don't want to explain to my young son that someone wanted to kill a baby... and it takes away from the joy of the Christmas story for a young reader.

The quality of the book was poor, it arrived warped. The storyline is terrible making Jesus just another baby born a long time ago. Why did they bother? One good note: the illustrations were excellent.

Overall, I was very disappointed with this book. I was hoping to introduce the story of Christmas to my 2.5-year-old son, but this book does not mention Christmas at all. There is no tie-in. Yes, it is the story of Jesus' birth, but I was hoping for something to tie in the holiday. You know, something about "and that's why we celebrate Christmas" or "And that's why we give Christmas presents." Really, it misses the point.

Despite all of that, my son does love the book because of the pictures. The quality of the book and the pages is great. Shiny, colorful, thick cardboard and a nice size. It's just the words that are terrible. Basically, I tell the story in my own words and forget what the author says. Yes, we parents do this a lot for books, but I was hoping the author could have done a better job herself. Let me give you some examples:

Excerpt from the book: "But that night an angel came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said that wicked King Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus."

Yes, you read it correctly. The author of a children's book thinks it's appropriate to talk about killing a baby! In the Christmas story. I don't know about you, but my son is now afraid of foxes because there was ONE mention of a fox in the book "Owl Babies." So I don't think I'm going to bring killing babies into his little world just yet.

Next excerpt, which is the following page and the end of the book: "So Mary and Joseph took their baby and went secretly to Egypt. When it was safe, they returned to the tiny town of Nazareth. There Jesus grew up to be a good, kind boy." THE END. Like I said, I think they missed the point. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Reviewed by Sarah van Ingen

If you're looking for a baby or toddler's first Christmas book, you may want to check out Baby Jesus Is Born. First, this is a block book with thick pages that will easily endure the chewing of a little one. Second, it's been packaged in a great size for a little person. At about seven inches per side, this book can easily be held by little hands. Another attractive feature of this book is that the simple, delightful illustrations. The characters are cartoon-like and are rendered in the most vibrant colors. Pink, purple, green, blue--the colors really explode off of the page.

The illustrations are a great complement to the simple diction of the written story. Author Juliet David begins her version of the Nativity story with an angel telling Mary that she will soon have a baby. Mary and her husband Joseph then make the long journey to Bethlehem. When they arrive, they can find nowhere to sleep until an innkeeper lets them stay in his stable. That night baby Jesus is born. An angel also appears to nearby shepherds and tells them that this baby will save the world. The shepherds then go into Bethlehem to find this baby. Wise men from far away see a special star in the sky that they believe will lead them to this new baby. They follow the star, and when they find Jesus they give him rich presents. Soon an angel comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him the evil king wants to kill Jesus. So Mary and Joseph take baby Jesus down into Egypt. Finally, when it is safe, they bring him back to a little town called Nazareth where he grows up "to be a good, kind boy."

The story is told so simply that this won't be a book to read to a child year after year. Yet, for the months before and after their first or second Christmas, this book will do a great job of telling the basic story. I recommend this book as a fun, practical way of getting the Christmas story into the hands of a toddler in your life.

Armchair Interviews agrees.