Tis the Season...

Advent has begun and as we move towards the celebration of the birth of Christ, I've begun geting out all my creches and Christmas books. As you can well imagine, there are thousands of children's books that focus on this season. Over the next three weeks, I'll share ten of my favorites. Some are out of print but are still available through used booksellers on the web.

Slate, Joseph. Who is Coming to Our House? Putnam Juvenile, 1988. ISBN: 0399215379. The animals in the stable are getting ready for visitors. In simple rhyme, they outline their preparations for the guest that they don’t yet know. Children will recognize the animals, but would also need to know the Christmas story in order to understand who the guests are. There are not too many books with Advent themes written for young children (the suggested ages for this are 4-8) but this catches the anticipation and preparation that are part of our Advent focus. My 3 year old granddaughter requests this book year round.

Simcox, Helen Earle. For All the World. Augsburg Fortress, 1994. ISBN: 0806627123. Less a book that tells the Christmas story than one that tries to show through text and art what it means that Jesus was born for all, the simple words and illustrations make this book wonderful for young children and old. I love this book and have given it to many children.

Macdonald, Alastair. First Christmas. Welcome Books, 2008. ISBN: 1599620553. Written as a poem (and a long one at that – the book is 44 pages) narrated by Zeke, the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem, I find the text slightly jarring. (Reading Joseph say, “I thought I was your man!” when reacting to Mary’s pregnancy didn’t quite ring true!) But, goodness, the pictures are magnificent. They are done by Coptic Christian artist Adel Nassief who lives in Egypt, and are painted in the style of ancient Coptic icons. There is a fascinating chapter at the end of the book on the history of Coptic iconography.

Hendry, Diana. Christmas in Exeter Street. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1989. ISBN: 0679801340. This book was originally published in England and came out in paperback in 2002, so if you want to find a used copy, look for all versions. This is the only book in my collection that has Father Christmas in it (the book’s reference to Santa Claus), but it is the joyful, exuberant ‘room in the inn’ theme that makes this one of my favorite Christmas books. There is no word of Jesus in this book, but I think it’s theme of welcoming and hospitality and making a place for all makes it a wonderful Christmas addition.

Ann