The first Christmas
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2021].
ISBN
9781534478787, 1534478787
Status

Description

Presents the story of Jesus's birth, based on the lyrics of the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Copies

LocationCall NumberStatus
ADD - BKC_1jEASY HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS BROOKS P.On Shelf
Bloomingdale Public Library - HolidayCHRISTMAS J E MOSOn Shelf
Downers Grove Public Library - 1st Floor - KidsJE HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS BROOKSOn Shelf
Lansing Public Library - Youth Picture BookJ P CELEBRATIONS CHRISTMAS MOSOn Shelf
Oak Lawn Public Library - Kids - HolidayJUV HOLIDAY 782.2817 BROOKSOn Shelf
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More Details

Published
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2021].
Format
Book
Physical Desc
1 volume (unpaged) : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 x 27 cm
Language
English
ISBN
9781534478787, 1534478787

Notes

General Note
"A Paula Wiseman book."
Description
Presents the story of Jesus's birth, based on the lyrics of the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
Target Audience
Ages 4-8. A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Target Audience
Grades 2-3. A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Published Reviews

Publisher's Weekly Review

Folk artist Moses offers intricate oil paintings to illustrate Brooks's 1867 poem "O Little Town of Bethlehem," which Redner set to music a year later. The art depicts the first Christmas, from Mary and Joseph searching for lodging to the Three Wise Men visiting the newborn King. Atmospheric art accented by dabs of gold and centering humans with indefinite features matches the reverence of the text: "How silently, how silently,/ The wondrous gift is given!" Though the cast includes a range of skin tones, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are shown as pale-skinned. This Christmas title, perhaps ideal as a readaloud with a knowledgeable adult, hints at the biblical meaning of Christmas, and is best appreciated by readers already familiar with the song or its theological origins. Back matter includes sheet music for "O Little Town of Bethlehem," a note about the text, and an author's note. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

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Horn Book Review

Folk artist Moses (Grandma's great-grandson) uses the first two and a half verses of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" as the text for his depiction of the Nativity story. The homespun quality of the oil paintings serves the tale well, with the manger a warm and comfortably crowded birthplace for the Baby Jesus. Although the carol gets a little abstract from the third verse on (all four verses are appended, along with a simple choral arrangement), Moses follows the Holy Family on their successful journey out of Bethlehem, the star still shining above. Roger Sutton November/December 2021 p.19(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

A popular Christmas song is paired with painted illustrations of the Nativity. Brooks' "O Little Town of Bethlehem" lyrics are printed in couplets on tan-colored pages with spot art featuring human and angelic characters. Facing each page of text is a scene in the desert, beginning with a pregnant Mary riding a donkey alongside Joseph walking with his staff along a road. They enter a town at night and disembark in a barnyard, where angels gather above and then people come bearing gifts. The final spread shows Mary caring for tiny baby Jesus, both of them glowing; the facing text quotes Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men." Endmatter offers the music, additional verses, and a note about the text. Moses' naïve art combines strokes of muted colors with the deep blue of a night sky and bright white and golden spots of robes and horns, moon, and stars. The scenes hum with the significance of the night represented. While the angels and the crowd are depicted in hues ranging from dark brown to pale, the three main figures are decidedly pink, and the baby's hair appears golden. Some Christian families seeking to share the tale of Christ's birth with their young ones will find this a fitting tribute. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Refreshing. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Brooks, P., Moses, W., & Brooks, P. (2021). The first Christmas (First edition.). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Brooks, Phillips, 1835-1893, Will Moses and Phillips Brooks. 2021. The First Christmas. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Brooks, Phillips, 1835-1893, Will Moses and Phillips Brooks. The First Christmas New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

Brooks, P., Moses, W. and Brooks, P. (2021). The first christmas. First edn. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Brooks, Phillips, Will Moses, and Phillips Brooks. The First Christmas First edition., Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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