The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible [Hardcover]

Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1998

According to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke from the King James Bible.

The story of the birth of Christ, celebrated around the world at Christmas, is one of the most beautiful in the New Testament. From Mary's meeting with the angel Gabriel to the birth of baby Jesus in a stable, to the visit of the shepherds and the three wise men, the story is rich in imagery and symbolism. Here, in a triumph of glorious art, is that wondrous story excerpted from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew from the King James Bible.

Gennady Spirin has been described in the Boston Globe as an artist who "truly represents the picture book as an object of art." In The Christmas Story, his paintings are luminous and reverent. Drawing on both his classical training at the Stroganov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow and his Orthodox Christian faith, Mr. Spirin has created a work of art to be passed from generation to generation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Award-winning illustrator Gennady Spirin (The Sea King's Daughters and The Crane Wife) brings his glorious paintbrush to the Passion play. When you want to introduce children to the actual biblical words that recount Christ's birth, this is the book to reach for. Spirin's paintings are reminiscent of the Renaissance masters, with a sundry of wine reds, creamy whites, celestial blues, and sun-burnt browns all gilded in Italian gold. When Gabriel visits Mary he descends from heaven in a mist of wispy clouds. A gold halo frames his sincere face, and in his hand he carries an offering of a white lily. When Gabriel explains the enormous task that is being asked of Mary, she finally agrees, saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Spirin then closes in on Mary's young face--her downcast eyes and lightly pursed lips holding oceans of fear and faith. And when heaven celebrates the arrival of Jesus, the page looks as though it's been plucked from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. These are the kind of illustrations that linger with children like guardian angels--forever imprinting beautiful images upon the story of Christ's birth. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations ©1998 by Gennady Spirin, from The Christmas Story. Reprinted by permission of Henry Holt and Co.) (All ages) --Gail Hudson

From School Library Journal

K Up?In both the King James text and in the masterful, symbolist illustrations, this reverent creation will appeal to those wishing to share with children the spiritual and religious context of Christmas. Lavishly detailed pictures face intricately bordered text pages; they call for close examination. Spirin's use of light, his textures and richly elaborate costuming, and his Archangel Gabriel's somehow other-than-human face all perfectly suit the grandeur and wonder of the narrative. Like the gold that makes these pages glow, this enduring presentation will remain bright long after the book is closed.?SHP
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Gift edition (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805052925
• ISBN-13: 978-0805052923
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 11.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gennady Spirin was classically educated at the Moscow Art School at the Academy of Arts and at the Moscow Stroganov Institute. Influenced by Russian Renaissance painters, Mr. Spirin has developed his own unique style of illustration using traditional Russian art techniques. His work appeared four times on the annual New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year list. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Books, December 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible (Hardcover)

I love Christmas books for children and when I discovered this one, I couldn't believe it. It is a definite heirloom and one to be shared with the entire family. This book was not totally set for the younger age group but for everyone. It isn't entirely encompassed with baby words and illustrations like others I've seen. The pictures are also quite beautiful.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Illustrations, November 29, 2001

By 

Belle "belle3" (Toney, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible (Hardcover)

This hardbound book is absolutely beautiful, consisting of wonderful illustrations based upon the gospels of Matthew and Luke (KJV).

The illustrator Gennady Spirin, is masterful, brilliant, and elegantly captures the essence of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The construction of the book itself, 33 pages in length, is designed for adults and mature children and is most definitely not a plaything for toddlers.

Purchase this book and establish a new and wonderful Christmas family tradition.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, January 2, 2003

By 

"ashbeth" (Leonardtown, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible (Hardcover)

Absolutely gorgeous. Stunning illustrations. Magical ... haunting ... I cannot say enough.