Donkey's Christmas Song [Board book]

Nancy Tafuri (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Now in board! A warm, broadly appealing celebration of the first Christmas, in which a donkey and other favorite animals welcome a very special baby.

A very special baby is born in a stable under a star, surrounded by friendly farmyard animals. The donkey wants to be the first to welcome the baby, but he is too shy. So the doves welcome him with their "Coo-coo," the cow with her "Moo-moo," and all the other animals in turn. Then, the baby welcomes the shy donkey with his own sweet smile. The donkey brays - "Hee-aw!" - and the baby laughs with joy! Then all snuggle around the baby and settle into sleep.
This warm presentation of the first Christmas celebrates the wonder of a baby's birth and welcomes all into the spirit of holiday joy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Stable animals that witness Jesus' birth welcome him with joyful noise in this fittingly melodic picture book. All the creatures wish to offer their unique songs to the baby, but the shy donkey refrains from taking part, worried that his bray is too coarse. In the end, his sincere "hee-haw" receives a most wonderful response. Tafuri's (I Love You, Little One) ability to combine a breezy storytelling style with economical text sets apart her timeless message that a gift from the heart is always the most appreciated. The outsize (10" x 10") format suits the large-scale, up-close perspectives of her softly edged pencil-and-watercolor art. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-"Under a bright star,/a long, long time ago-/a baby was born in a stable." This simple story follows the barnyard animals as they each come forward to greet the child. Only the shy donkey hangs back, until he is welcomed by the infant's smile, and he sings his noisy song. This beautifully told and illustrated tale includes a rhythmic repetition of language and the sounds each creature makes. Tafuri's combination of soft colors and delicate lines sets a tone that is both engaging and comforting. A lovely rendition of an oft-told tale.-L. I.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Board book: 30 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439746183
• ISBN-13: 978-0439746182
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Tafuri is probably best known as the creator of Have You Seen My Duckling?, a 1985 Caldecott Honor Book described by Parent's Choice as "beautifully precise yet emotionally affecting." Trained as a graphic designer, Tafuri has authored more than 45 books over 27 years for the very young. www.nancytafuri.com
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Christmas Book For The Very Young, December 13, 2003

By 

librarylady61 (Northern Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Donkey's Christmas Song (Hardcover)

No offense to the reviewer disappointed that this is not a "historical teaching tool", but this book is not intended to be that! Nancy Tafuri is one of the most gifted picture book authors for the very young, and she has used her talents here to make the Nativity story accessible to the very youngest readers. The gentle text and expressive pictures draw young children into the stable along with the animals to see the newborn baby, and to greet him.

I read this at storyhours for two and three year olds. The children love joining in on the animals' songs, and when the donkey sings his noisy "hee-haw" song, they laugh along with the baby. No, they don't get the deeper message, but we are talking about very little children and their first introduction to the story--and this works!

There are plenty of good books out there for older children about the Nativity. But if you want something to gently introduce your child to the wonder of Christmas--here it is.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Story, December 28, 2007

By 

D. Manley "Preschool Teacher, Mom & Grandma!" (Mount Ephraim,NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Donkey's Christmas Song (Hardcover)

My toddler class loved this book. They would always giggle and make all the animal sounds. I loved that it showed that even if we don't think we are good enough...we are. A sweet story and a great addition to any preschooler's collection!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas book!!, December 14, 2006

By 

Christina S. Czysz (Angier, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Donkey's Christmas Song (Board book)

My 1-year-old really enjoys this book. It's the real Christmas story told from the animal's perspective. My son LOVES animals so he enjoys hearing what each animal says to baby Jesus. Almost all the kids I know would love this book!!