Customer Reviews

Prairie Christmas

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

 

 

This lovely picture book tells the familiar Christmas story with a unique way. Emma accompanies her mother out into the cold prairie night one Christmas Eve to help a neighbor deliver a baby. Unusual for the 1800s' Emma's mother is the local doctor. Emma is only 11, but she's accompanied her mother many times and knows how long it can take a baby to arrive; it seems a little unfair to Emma that they will not have a Christmas. Emma soon realizes that she can give the gift of comfort to the two young children who are worried about their mother. And when three men from neighborhing farms appear at the door with cookies, a lamb and a goat, readers will start to recognize elements of the traditional nativity story. Pencil and watercolor illustrations reflect the cold of the prairie night and the warmth of a family's love. The story is a bit longer and complex for the youngest listeners; it would work best with one-on-one reading or small groups of children in grades 1 and up.

"Prairie Christmas" is a beautifully illustrated book about life in the Nebraska prairie on a Christmas Eve in 1880. The full page full color plates and and descriptive writing portray life in the 1880's. The story opens with the disruption of the Christmas Day plans of Emma and her doctor mother when they are called upon to travel to a neighboring farm to deliver a baby on Christmas Eve. Emma reluctantly accompanies her mother and begins to experience self pity because her Christmas Day plans have been dusrupted. When she encounters the frightened brother and sister of the unborn baby she realizes that she is not the only one who had her Christmas celebration plans disrupted. It is then that she reaches out to these frightened and disappointed children. Emma helps to finish the undecorated fir tree with homemade Christmas decorations. She brushes handfuls of her horse's hair to make ornaments with the children. Emma also cooks a special Christmas porridge of rice, raisins, cinnamon and sugar for the children who are very hungry because their mother didn't feel well enough to prepare any meals because of her pregnancy. Neighbors visit the house bearing gifts of cookies and treats. The visiting neighbors wait with Emma and the two children, Hansie and Will. When the baby boy is finally delivered everybody celebrates and Emma and her doctor mother slowly make their way home on a cold starry night. Each of them feel so good and satisfied inside because they were able to give of themselves on this Christmas Eve in spite of the fact that their Christmas plans were disrupted. Christmas is indeed a time when there should be no room for self pity. This book is most appropriate for children in Grade Four or above--even though the book says five years and above. The reading level is too difficult for children below fourth grade.