Customer Reviews

Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift

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

 

 

I love this book! Instead of simply telling the familiar story of Jesus' birth, this book starts with Adam and Eve. Using plain words and ideas, "Ordinary Baby" tells the story of God's relationship with his creation, how is was broken, and how God sent Jesus to restore it.

Starting in the Garden, "...God and people were best friends. They were glad to see each other whenever they got together, and when they went for walks in the beautiful garden God had made, they laughed and told each other secrets..." Then comes the Fall "... the two people to break their promises to God and to ruin the wonderful friendship between the people and God".

The book then talks about how there were "special listeners" who could hear God trying to talk to people. "The listeners said God would send someone to introduce people to him again, so that God's people could get together with him in a place they called "God's kingdom."

Jesus finally comes as an ordinary baby, "...because no one would be afraid of a baby". "Like the first people in the garden, children and God would know each other...and not be afraid."

The illustrations in this book are lovely; colorful, open, inclusive. Although the book cover says ages 4 and up, it was my 8 year old who found this book and encouraged me to buy it.

Making use of her song Ordinary Baby, Gloria Gaither not only tells the story of the birth of Christ but explains why it was necessary that He come, starting in the beginning of time in the garden. She goes on to explain the possible reason God came to us as a baby.
"That's the way he planned it, maybe, so that we would come to him and not be afraid."

The illustrator, Barbara Hranilovich's artwork is imaginative and beautifully colorful. She creates a fascinating portrayal of the character in each face - even the animals.

It is 40 lovely pages and includes an audio cassette

Children will love listening to the cassette when their parents aren't available to read to them. Also on the cassette is the song Ordinary Baby performed by a choir of sweet children's voices.

It is suggested for children, ages 4 to 8 but I think the parents and grandparents will love it too.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift but I have enjoyed it so much that I may have purchase another copy for the gift and keep this one for myself. It is a heart-warming Christmas story that is likely to become a family tradition. I think this is the perfect way to introduce a child to the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple, easy to understand story.

I had this book years ago, before I had children of my own. When our first child was born, I started to search for it, but have not been able to find it through 2 moves in the past 7 years. I was delighted to find it on Amazon.com, and am eagerly awaiting its arrival, hopefully in time for Christmas. The artwork is wonderful, and the story is told so well, from a different perspective.

The story is the most age-appropriate beautifully told story of salvation for the young child ina Christian family that I have run across. It is an understandable description of a complicated situation.

I have seen two versions of the book; the other version has a different illustrator and I like it better, although I suspect the illustration of the version I received from Amazon is probably more realistic.

I am writing a kindergarten December curriculum and am including this book as a must-read (Parochial schools).

Marilyn G. Beach, Ph.D.
Early Childhood Specialist

This was a really good book.

I did have a hard time keeping 22 preschoolers focused on the story, but in all fairness it was Christmas time and they were having a hard time focusing on anything.

I will definitely try reading it in a smaller group setting, because it is a wonderfully written story.