Who Is Coming to Our House? (Sandcastle Book) [Paperback]

Joseph Slate (Author), Ashley Wolff (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 1991

The animals in the stable prepare for the arrival of baby Jesus.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Animals clean their stable in preparation for a very special visitor. PW praised this "quiet, understated rendering of the Nativity" that "resonates with genuine warmth and spirit. Wolff's accomplished block prints convey the gentle friendliness and generosity of the occasion." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (October 10, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399217908
• ISBN-13: 978-0399217906
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,198,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

John A. Vozenilek III "Voz" (Park Ridge, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who Is Coming to Our House? (Board Book) (Board book)

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Also Good for One and Two-Year Olds, June 6, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Rio Rancho, NM United States) - See all my reviews

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

Who is Coming to Our House? is a super-favorite of my granddaughters, 14 months and 2-1/2. The black-outlined familiar farm animals and the final picture of the baby Jesus are just what they love. They study the details: apples, Joseph's lantern in the distance, Mary's toes. And the soft verse is hypnotic. A perfect last book before bed. No need to save this one for later. It is becoming my standard baby gift.

20 of 22 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 - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who Is Coming to Our House? (Board Book) (Board book)

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.