Silent Night: The Song from Heaven [Paperback]

Linda Granfield (Author), Nelly Hofer (Illustrator), Ernst Hofer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: K and up

As amazing as it seems, one of the world’s best-loved Christmas carols may have been written because of ravenous mice! Right before Christmas, 1818, in a church in the small town of Oberndorf, Austria, the mice were so hungry they chewed a hole in the church organ’s leather bellows. To provide his parishioners with music on the holiest of nights, the priest jotted down the words for a Christmas song, and he asked the church organist to write a melody for two solo voices and a guitar. That evening “Stille Nacht,” known as “The Song from Heaven,” was born.

Silent Night: The Song from Heaven presents the story of the carol, accompanied by beautiful and intricate gold scherenschnitte (cut paper art) illustrations. Today, “Silent Night,” the gentle anthem born of necessity, is sung around the world in nearly one hundred languages – thanks to a few hungry mice!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?A book that starts as a quietly written, nicely patterned story of two children who help to unpack and set up the wax figures of the manger scene in the Church of St. Nicola in Oberndorf, Austria, in 1818. The present-tense narrative lends immediacy to the scene, and the addition of the children's commentary adds to the book's appeal: "ODid the lambs keep the Baby warm on that night long ago?' whispered Hans. ODid their bleating chase sleep away from the Little One?'" Between each of these moments and interspersed throughout the story are elaborate "Scherenschnitt," or silhouettes, in gold and black. Once the creche is complete, Father Mohr arrives, making passing mention that the organ is broken. The rest of the book is devoted to the life of the composer and the history of the song, which was composed and first performed on that fateful day in 1818. A one-page explanation of the silhouettes is appended. Despite the abrupt transition, both parts of the book are well-done; it should be appreciated for its outstanding art and for its focus on this well-known carol. An additional purchase for most libraries.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“It should be appreciated for its outstanding art and for its focus on this well-known carol.”
–School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books (August 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887764347
• ISBN-13: 978-0887764349
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 0.2 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,570,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Silent Night: book review, December 31, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Silent Night: The Song from Heaven (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful Christmas story about how the song Silent Night came to be. The pictures are made of cut paper and are just marvelous. I hope you will read this book and enjoy it as my family and I did.