The Story of Christmas (Trophy Picture Books) [Paperback]

Barbara Cooney (Author), Loretta Krupinski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Trophy Picture Books

A Time To Celebrate

For Christmas all over the world, Christmas is a special day, full of wonder. And while the story of Jesus' birth is at the heart of the celebration, the traditions surrounding it are varied and diverse.

In this classic text, Barbra Cooney offers readers a retelling of the timeless Christmas story with a beautiful explanation of the origins of many cherished and beloved customs from around the world. With charming illustrations by Loretta Krupinski, and fun holiday activities by the publishyer, this book will be treasured for many Christmases to come.' Cooney begins by conveying the feeling of excitement that surrounds Christmas and then slips easily into examining the holiday' s history. The religious significance of Jesus' birth is first related, followed by explanations of older widwinter celebrations (for example, Yule and Saturnalia) that show the blending of various customs into one special season. . . . There is a lot of information in this little book, including recipes for rolled Christmas cookies and instructions for making a clove-covered orange, and a pinecone bird feeder.' --BL.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 2^-4. Cooney begins by conveying the feeling of excitement that surrounds Christmas and then slips easily into examining the holiday's history. The religious significance of Jesus' birth is first related, followed by explanations of older midwinter celebrations (for example, Yule and Saturnalia) that show the blending of various customs into one special season. Krupinski's gouache-and-colored-pencil illustrations reflect different cultures and time periods and are suitably celebratory. There is a lot of information in this little book, including recipes for rolled Christmas cookies and instructions for making a clove-covered orange, and a pinecone bird feeder. Kathy Broderick --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Caldecott Medalist Cooney embraces holiday traditions from around the world and weaves them into a all-encompassing explanation of Christmas."-- "Publishers Weekly""Krupinski's gouache-and-colored-pencil illustrations reflect different cultures and time periods and are suitably celebratory."-- ALA "Booklist"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064435121
• ISBN-13: 978-0064435123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,932,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Cooney and her twin brother were born on August 6, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York to Russell Schenck Cooney and Mae Evelyn Bossert. Because her father was a stockbroker, her family lived in suburbia, which Barbara disliked.
Cooney attended a boarding school as a child. Never considering an art school and wanting a liberal arts education, she later attended Smith College where she studied art history and received her degree in 1938, a decision she was later to regret.
Realizing that she needed to make a living at something, she decided that illustrating books was a career as good as any. She attended classes on etching and lithography at the Art Students League in New York City.
She quickly received assignments after getting a portfolio together and schlepping it around to publishers, but, unfortunately, World War II postponed her new career for a bit. Recalling an earlier trip to Germany prior to the war and the horrors that she had seen there, she was compelled to join the Women's Army Corps during the summer of 1942.
She enrolled in officer training and achieved the rank of second lieutenant, but was honorably discharged the following spring because of marriage and the pregnancy of her first child, Gretel. She married Guy Murchie, Jr., a war correspondent, in December of 1944. In 1945, the young couple bought a farm in Pepperell, Massachusetts where they ran a children's camp during the summer months. One can only imagine that, perhaps, family life didn't suit Mr. Murchie and the couple divorced in March of 1947, but not before having one more child, Barnaby.
With a young family to support, Cooney resumed her career in book illustration. She married Charles Talbot Porter, a physician, on July 16, 1949, and the couple had two more children, Charles Talbot Jr. and Phoebe Ann.
By this time, Cooney was illustrating several books a year and even wrote one herself now and then. In fact, it was for her adaptation of Chaucer's The Nun Priest's Tale that she won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1959.
Cooney was a stickler for details and traveled extensively to support her research. A visit to Mexico was required to study at the art and anthropological museums there. A visit to Finland was in order to meet with artist, writers and folklorists there.
Cooney died on 14 March, 2000 at the age of 83. Her last book was Basket Moon published in September of 1999
In the later part of her career Cooney focused on writing and illustrating more books of her own, and these were equally well--received. Miss Rumphius, for which the author won both the American Book Award and a New York Times citation in 1982, was inspired by the true story of a woman who traveled the world collecting flower seeds and came home at last to make something beautiful. Her most recent books include Hattie and the Wild Waves.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice, easy reading, January 13, 2000

By 

P Davis (Eagle, Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of Christmas (Trophy Picture Books) (Hardcover)

This book was nice, easy reading with simple stories that relate the history and meaning of Christmas. Touches on the religious background and how traditions have changed to modern day.