O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem [Hardcover]

Public Domain (Author), Faith Ringgold (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2004

O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Painting from the heart in a time when the world longs for peace, Faith Ringgold has created art that celebrates the hope that came to all people on a silent night in Bethlehem. Her jewel-toned paintings are imbued with the spiritual vitality of the Boys Choir of Harlem's joyous renditions of five of our most beloved Christmas carols, and will be treasured for their spirit of wonder and love.

A perfect way to enhance the holiday season, O Holy Night gives families the chance to hear the glorious voices of the Boys Choir of Harlem while experiencing the radiant art their singing has inspired.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS Up–The lyrics for "Silent Night," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Joy to the World" are accompanied by richly colored paintings depicting a dark-skinned holy family and a multiethnic cast of shepherds, angels, and Wise Men. Deep purples and blues, highlighted by gold lettering and halos, emphasize the joy and mystery of this special night. The book begins with the text of Luke 2:1-20 from the King James Version of the Bible (in very small font) and is accompanied by a compact disc of the five carols, sung by the Boys Choir of Harlem. A lovely holiday choice.–E. M.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Pres-Gr. 3. O Holy Night, which has the lyrics of five carols, including "Silent Night" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful," comes with a CD featuring the Boys' Choir of Harlem singing traditional and soulful versions of the songs. Illustrator Ringgold's paintings, set against backgrounds of sky blue and ruby red and decorated with touches of gold, feature an African American Holy Family who are visited by dark-skinned wise men and shepherds, and angels of all races and colors. The folk-art style imbues the characters with a humanity that brings them close to readers. This is especially true of the playful baby Jesus, whose godliness is also addressed as he cavorts with cherubs and angels.

Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Amistad (September 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060009799
• ISBN-13: 978-0060009793
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,632,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 'Tis the Season, January 14, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem (Hardcover)

Some holiday songs focus on reindeers, Santa, even snowmen while others, such as O Holy Night, focus on the true religious story behind Christmas. In the book O HOLY NIGHT: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem, illustrator Faith Ringgold, has used her artistic talents to bring the lyrics to these more spiritual Christmas songs alive through her paintings. Other songs featured in the book include: Hark the Herald Angel Sing, Joy to the World and Silent Night. In addition, the book opens with an excerpt from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20) describing the birth of Christ. There is also an accompanying CD that features several selections, including the title song, by the Boys Choir of Harlem. Children have the opportunity to absorb the subtle richness of the artwork and read the lyrics to the songs, all while listening to the young and very talented choir.

This book a wonderful way to remind children that Christmas is not a commercial event, rather a spiritual one. O HOLY NIGHT doesn't present anything new, but instead breathes new life into the story of Christ's birth and classic Christmas Carols. The combination of Faith Ringgold's fabulous artwork, the melodic voices of The Boys Choir of Harlem, and a deeply moving song, result in an enjoyable multi-sensory experience. Furthermore, it is a valuable tool parents can use to teach their children about the true meaning of Christmas. I plan to incorporate this book into my regular holiday traditions.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers