Customer Reviews

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story

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Sally Lloyd-Jones' newest book, Song of the Stars, is further evidence that she is one of the most important writers of children's books today. She is able to take the Biblical story of Christmas and, while still being faithful to the text, imagine it in a new and vibrant way. Song of the Stars is about the coming of Jesus, yes, but it is also about all of Creation waiting for him. It's about the animals and the earth longing for their Savior to come. This book should be on the shelf of every child. It's an important addition to the canon of great children's literature.

I was blessed to hear Sally Lloyd Jones read this book aloud at a conference for "creatives" : in Nashville, TN last week. She had pages from the book projected on a screen as she read (I'm guessing from the audio book version). First for the visuals - I found them to be compelling, engaging, creative and refreshingly "primitive." With children's literature the images are at least half the fun and with the artwork for this book there is MUCH fun to be had for sure. Thanks for not settling for second rate art Sally! During her keynote at the conference she said, "You wouldn't come into a presentation for your job with your second best. Why do we think it's okay for children to have less than our best. If anything kids deserve more." (I summarized that but it's close I think.) The story itself is as equally compelling. You won't be disappointed with the simple yet wonder-filled words on every page. This story is told from the vantage-point of the animals and nature that were the first to "sense" that Jesus had come to earth. They knew that "he's here" before anyone else did. What a warm and though-provoking concept. This is truly a Christmas story of a different sort. It will be a staple for my family from this Christmas forward!

I had the privilege of hearing Sally speak at my church last spring, and she is a delight! I pre-ordered her Christmas book on Amazon and greatly anticipated it! We have been reading it regularly since it came in September. I have 4 children ages 13, 10, 8, and 14 months and ALL of them love this book. The illustrations are beautiful and captivating to the baby, and the rich text has sparked conversations with my older children about the wonderful mystery of "The One who made us has come to live with us!". It is already a favorite Christmas book, one I am so excited to share by reading it to my son's second grade class!

I ordered this book for my son for Christmas based on a recommendation from a friend. We just received it today and I was blown away! I read it immediately and it is the best Christmas book I've ever read. I will recommend this to anyone who will listen!

Written in free-flowing, poetic style, popular children's book author Sally Lloyd Jones turns the original Christmas story into something true, but different, in Song of the Stars.

"The world was about to change forever. And it almost went by unnoticed..." Jones begins. In the subsequent pages she imagines how nature might have reacted to the birth of the Savior. Leaves "rustle with a rumor," the wind "whispered it softly in the sycamore trees," a "big brown bear sniffed the air," "the skies shouted it to the seas that thundered it to the waves that roared it to the great white whales that sang it to the starfish in the deep"...and so on. Once in a while, an animal or plant cries, "It's time! It's time!," "Be glad!" "The Mighty King!", or "The Bright and Morning Star!"

The vivid illustrations by Alison Jay depict nature - presumably around the world - reacting to Jesus' birth, until finally we see Bethlehem with shepherds, sheep, and angels surrounding it, then a little barn, then a baby surrounded by animals, then the baby held by his mother and surrounded by animals, then Jesus' family. "Our Rescuer!" Mary cries, and all "gazed in wonder at God's great gift...Heaven's Son sleeping under the stars that he made."

What I Like: This picture book is unlike any Christmas book you've probably ever seen before. Jones' fresh take on the subject matter is based solidly on biblical fact, but shows plenty of imagination and creativity, too. I am reminded of Psalm 96, where the Bible says Jesus' return will be met with a roaring sea and rejoicing trees. Then would it be any wonder if nature rejoiced at his birth?

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Kristina Seleshanko, Christian Children's Book Review

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We have just begun reading this to our children (both 3 years of age) and they are loving both the story and the illustrations. Sally, as usual, has done a beautiful job of writing a story we all know with a twist of wonderment. My kids love thinking how all of creation anticipated Jesus' birth. If excellence is truly the most inclusive aspect to art than this is a book for everyone. You will love this book both in and out of Christmas! -- Danny Giffen, Pastor of Discipleship, Covenant Presbyterian Church

Read this book first at the bookstore but did not purchase it, much to my regret. I am a frugal person (it's the economy!) and I just had to have this book in my library, and the libraries of my grandchildren. The story is of how God's creation praised the coming of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), skipping all the preachiness of so many children's book. Reading this to children let's them come to the conclusion that creation praises its Creator, who came down himself in the form of a baby. I am voting this book as 2011's most beautiful Christmas book. It is also beautiful to read out loud. The words harmonize and flow out of your mouth and into the minds of little ones. The artwork goes way beyond cute, but is original, imaginative, and inspiring. I am buying several copies.

We bought this book to read in church this last Christmas and it was a huge hit. The artwork is extremely beautiful. The story isn't "biblical" per se, it's mostly about how the entire world was anticipating the birth of Jesus. Let me just add if you have not seen Sally Lloyd Jones's storybook bible - that is certainly a must buy as well.

We love this book. I have a 5 and 2 year old, and we own the Jesus Storybook Bible from this same author (which is fantastic). And this Christmas book is wonderful, too. It's a sweet book about the animals anticipating Jesus' arrival. We love it!

My Aunt gave Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story to my kids this Christmas. I knew it would be good before I read it, but just to be sure, I thumbed through to the end, where sure enough- the Lord Jesus was being glorified! I was glad, because earlier this Christmas I had to throw away a Christmas book that snuck into our collection- it ended with a baby who was having his very first experiences ever. In contrast, Sally Lloyd-Jones' book ends with a Baby under the stars that he made! Amen and Amen!

As someone else mentioned, this book is not yet a favorite of my children, but I am confident they will grow to love it (they don't mind it, but haven't asked for it, either). The illustrations are bright, vibrant, well done. The text is appropriately sized. The message is living. This is a must have for any Christmas book collection. I can't get through it without my voice breaking, with wonder and joy at the Glory of 'the Manger Baby.'