Saturday, December 24, 2016

Jesus is Born - a bookwrap















Unwrapping...





"Jesus is Born"

Authored by Sophie Piper
Illustrated by Yvonne Gilbert
Ages 4-8




Unwrapping some Editorial Reviews about the book...



From School Library Journal


K-Gr 2—This retelling uses the Gospels of Luke and Matthew in approachable text for younger readers. Beautiful and captivating soft-hued illustrations draw readers into each page. The story begins with the visit by the angel Gabriel, who lets Mary know about God's plan for her, and moves to the journey to Bethlehem with Joseph and the birth of God's only son in a stable. The shepherds are visited by angels telling them of the special birth, and three wise men arrive with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. King Herod's unease about the birth of a new king is explained to the wise men by an angel in a dream, and they make the decision to return to their home country by a different route. The holy family's escape into Egypt concludes with the hopeful words, "When he grows up, he will bring God's blessing to the world." Angels appearing in people's dreams definitively tie the threads of the Nativity tale together. VERDICT This charming introduction to the story of the birth of Jesus should be considered for all holiday collections.—Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library



"This accessible retelling is more complete than most Nativity stories for children, contextualizing the joyful scene of the birth in the stable against the imminent danger to the newborn child. Appealing colored-pencil illustrations in a muted palette are an excellent match to the fairly lengthy story. Most of the characters have light skin; one of the wise men and a court musician have dark skin.


An excellent choice for church libraries and Christian families who want a contemporary retelling of the Christmas story. (Picture book/religion. 5-9)" --Kirkus Reviews



Some gorgeous illustrations for you...






































About the book...


This book is just beautiful from beginning to end.  It is a classic retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ and the illustrations are stunning.  It would be a perfect book to set out on your coffee table for the entire Christmas season, showcasing it right beside your nativity scene.  

It is an adaption from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.  No story is more recounted at Christmas time than this one.  It is the complete story of the birth of Jesus from start to finish including the visitation by the Angel Gabriel to inform Mary that she is chosen by God Himself to be the mother of His only child and all the God-ordained magic that surrounds this miraculous event.  It tells of the wondrous luminous star that shines brightly in the heavenliness to proclaim His holy birth. The magnificent star phenomenon is followed by three mysterious Kings journeying from the far east to seek out their saviour.  They track the star for a long time and  finally it leads them to the tiny baby Jesus who is lying in a lowly manger.  The Kings offer Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and worship the Christ -child.  Hosts of angels sing on high and shepherds come to see the baby who is  wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. They know that they are invited by God to meet baby Jesus face-to-face and that they are privileged to be part of this supernatural happening.

The story is documented so beautifully. It is a timeless tale and speaks to the very heart of why Christians celebrate their beloved Christmas.  The illustrations are truly lovely and a gift to the reader.  The colour pallet with its muted colours make the book a treasured classic and that is why it should be included in  Christmas collections and definitely find a permanent home in libraries and in homes everywhere.  I highly, highly recommend this book.




Storywrap rating...  5 Hugs+...  to infinity and beyond........








About the author...





Sophie Piper has an excellent reputation as an author and compiler of children's gift and prayer books, which include My Baptism Book, A Book of Prayers to Keep for Ever, and On the Day You Were Born. She is especially interested in writing and compiling books that communicate the themes of love, hope, and faith to young children. She lives in the Thames Valley, England.



About the illustrator...






Anne Yvonne Gilbert is one of the most prolific and acclaimed illustrators practicing today. Born and raised in Northumberland, England, Anne Yvonne Gilbert studied at Newcastle College of Art and Liverpool College of Art. After lecturing full-time for five years she became a freelance illustrator in 1978 and has worked with many of the major publishing houses and design groups worldwide. She lives in Toronto, Canada.







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