Customer Reviews

The first night

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered this book during the past holiday season and was taken in by the simplistic, yet beautiful re-telling of the Christmas story. Giving life to the words, the illustrations are enchanting. My niece and I enjoyed sharing this book together and I look forward to reading it to my own children on Christmas Eve for many years to come.

I bought this book years ago for my son (who's now 17)...it's a simple, beautifully illustrated version of the Nativity. The simple spirituality conveyed in this book is profound. "The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us." In its sweet description of the quiet moments of Jesus' first hours of life on earth, the story reminds children (and adults) that our Savior was human and felt all the things that we as humans feel. It's just beautiful and incredibly moving.

I am an illustration fanatic, and this book has wonderful, wonderful illustrations.

The text I am just not sold on -- I would probably give it only two stars for text. I would almost prefer the book had no text at all -- only these gorgeous illustrations. After all, I know the Christmas story and I can tell it using these pictures.

I love the angels inside the front and back cover. I would buy a Christmas card of any illustration in this book.

This book is so amazing! I searched and searched for the right book to share with my children when they were very small. Too many of the books tried to do too much explaining to toddlers. As a previous reviewer put it, 'this book sets the stage' and I'll add that it sets an extremely reverent tone in a way very small children can understand.

It's not just beautiful, it's simple and deep - perfect for kids aged 2-5, but my older kids still enjoy pulling it out to look at the paintings and read the plain text aloud.

This book has very beautiful illustrations and I like the simplicity of the text on each page, but I don't love this book.

First, it doesn't really tell a story. It sets the stage for the Christmas story, describing shepherds in a field, a star, a stable, a baby, but then it ends abruptly.

My other problem with the book is the page that depicts Baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. The text reads, "He felt the night air, his soft blanket, his mother's arms, his father's hands." Most people who want to teach their children about the true meaning of Christmas would probably like to stop and clarify that the father of this baby is God, not the man in the picture.