Who Is Coming to Our House? (Board Book) (Board book)

by Joseph Slate (Author), Ashley Wolff (Illustrator) "Who is coming to our house?..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
" 'Who is coming to our house?' 'Someone, someone,' says Mouse." In trusting anticipation, the animals ready the stable, cleaning, sweeping, stacking hay, and lining a crib. The visitors are, of course, Mary and Joseph, as weand the animalslearn in the book's closing pages. Simple, cleanly rhyming verses give the text a pleasing cadence, while Wolff's accomplished block prints convey the gentle friendliness and generosity of the occasion. A quiet, understated rendering of the Nativity, this well-crafted picture book resonates with genuine warmth and spirit. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1 A beautiful book with an insubstantial text. In a simple story told in rhyme, stable animals ask ``Who is coming to our house?'' `` `Someone, someone,' says Mouse.'' With anticipation, each animal helps to prepare ``their house'' for the unnamed guests. By nightfall, the stable is readied and the animals welcome Mary and Joseph. A double-page illustration shows the animals gazing upon the baby Jesus cradled in his Mother's arms. Wolff uses the same linoleum block and wash technique so effective in A Year of Birds (Dodd, 1984) and A Year of Beasts (Dutton, 1986). As in the earlier titles, the unusual perspectives and figures breaking through the black-lined boundaries add to the visual drama. Here, rich earth tones give a sense of the natural humility and love of the stable birth. Preschoolers and some toddlers will easily recognize most of the animals portrayed, but unless children already know the Christmas story they won't appreciate the importance of the human visitors, since Mary and Joseph are identified only by name. This may not be an obvious first choice as a holiday book or an animal identification book, but it is worth consideration for either shelf. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, Wis.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
  
• Board book: 14 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399234101
• ISBN-13: 978-0399234101
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #182,075 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant favorite, a must for Advent, December 9, 2001

By	GPV (Park Ridge, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Kids all know Santa is coming to their house. Do they know about Jesus coming? If you're looking for ways to give God a little equal time during the pre-Christmas crush, get this book for your kids. Little ones love to hear about animals, so the barnyard perspective of the first Christmas night is particularly effective. They will love the pictures, which depict the busy goings-on of each animal who has a job to prepare the barn for the special visitors. As the pages proceed, a subtle nighttime darkness grows, demonstrating the long wait children will associate with waiting for Christmas: "But it is dark," says Cat. "They will never come," says Rat. "Yes, they'll come, says Mouse. "Someone's coming to this house." The hypnotic cadence of the the spare text will keep them interested and turning pages to find out the answer to the all-important question: "Who is coming to our house?"

I bought this book for my under-two-year-old boys and my nearly five-year-old daughter never misses the nightly reading. It is a new Advent family tradition we all enjoy.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and simple story of Christmas!, January 10, 2004

By	Nancy K. Wagner "CASAnancy06" (CASA of McHenry County) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have loved this book for years! It is the sweetest story of Christmas seen through the eyes of the animals. It is my favorite children's Christmas book simply because it is so understated, and yet so powerful. This book is great for toddlers and early readers (my 2nd grader loves reading it to his siblings). A must have for your children's story collection.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, colorful book for preschoolers., November 15, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Is Coming to Our House? (Paperback)

I love this book - my children love this book. We bought it several years ago for my first child; it is now well-loved and well-worn. I teach at a Christian preschool and I am buying each child a copy for Christmas this year. I read it to them last week and the pictures and the suspense of "Who is coming to our house?" held them enthralled and quiet through the entire book...A high recommendation from 12 four-year olds!