What's at the Library about Advent and Christmas?

Fredericktown Community Library     Advent, Christmas & Epiphany book list:

 

Voices of Christmas   by Nikki Grimes

A poetic recount of Jesus' birth through the eyes of those who were witnesses.  (CD included)  (Primary/Int)

 

Baby Jesus and the Noisy Stable by Claire Henley

The animals in the stable are noisy but at the end of the night something very special happens  ( up through PS)

 

The Christmas Story by Patricia Pingry

This is the Christmas Story-- Jesus, our Saviour, born in Bethlehem.  Colorful paintings make it a book toddlers will love.

 

Through the Animal's Eyes:  A Story of the First Christmas by Christopher Wormell

This board book uses animal imagery to bring a new perspective to the story of the first Christmas.

 

Who is coming to our house? By Joseph Slate.

This is a simple and beautiful story in rhyme about how the animals prepare the stable for Jesus’ birth….a good book for advent.

All those Mothers at the Manger / Norma Farber

Talks about how the cow, hen, mare, and ewe  welcome Mary and Joseph and the baby.

 

A child is born / by Margaret Wise Brown

Presents a poetic description of the first Christmas night and the birth of the Baby Jesus. (up through PS)

 

The first night / by B.G. Hennessy

A simple retelling of the birth of Jesus with emphasis on the quiet time before the arrival of the shepherds, angels, and kings. (up through PS)

 

Christmas lullaby / by Nancy Jewell

A story in rhyme about the animals that attended the Baby Jesus.   Simple rhymes…beautiful and unique illustrations which show a little more of the nativity on each succeeding page.

(up through PS)

 

Asleep in the stable / by Will Hillenbrand

A baby owl asks his mother all about the Holy Child who he sees sleeping in their stable home. This book encourages young children’s participation.  It interweaves parts of the real story  sweetly, simply, and in a subtle way. (up through PS)

 

The donkey's Christmas song / by Nancy Tafuri

Various animals welcome a new baby born in a stable with their special sounds, but the donkey is afraid that his braying will be too harsh. (up through PS)

 

Come and see: a Christmas story / by Monica Mayper

Shepherds, townsfolk, and travelers celebrate the birth of Christ with a midnight feast and dance. (PS/Primary)

 

The Legend of the Candy Cane / Lori Walburg

This story can helps to use the candy cane as symbols of the real Christmas story.(PS/Primary)

 

The Christmas star / by Marcus Pfister

Various people and animals are drawn by a magnificent star to Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ.  The "shiny" stars in the illustrations capture young children’s attention. (PS/Primary)

What can I give him? / Debi Gliori.

Two girls' stories(pictured side by side on each page) entwine at Christmas as each must choose a special gift for someone very important. This book reminds us that Christmas is about giving from the heart. (PS/Primary)

This is a great book to illustrate the scriptural version of the Christmas story. (PS/Int.)

Room for a little one: a Christmas tale / Martin Waddell

Kind Ox welcomes Old Dog, Stray Cat, Small Mouse, Tired Donkey, and finally the baby Jesus into his stable on the first Christmas night.  The theme of "no room at the inn", and acceptance, is found in this story of familiar animal characters. (PS/Primary)

 

B is for Bethlehem a Christmas Alphabet/ by Isabel Wilner

Rhyming verses introduce the letters of the alphabet and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.  (PS on up)

*This is the Star / Joyce Dunbar

This is the story of the Nativity, but what makes it special is that it is a cumulative tale with rhyme. It adds a new line or two on each page….like the old rhyme The House that Jack Built.  Because it repeats, younger children can participate more in the story. (PS on up)

One small lost sheep / Claudia Mills

While looking for Kivsa, his lame sheep, Benjamin misses the wondrous announcement that the angels make to the other shepherds near Bethlehem, but it is Kivsa who leads him to the newborn king. (primary)

 

A shepherd's gift / Mary Calhoun

While looking for his lost lamb, an orphaned shepherd boy meets Mary, Joseph, and newborn baby Jesus in a manger.  (primary)

 

The nativity play/ Nick Butterworth

How can your family dramatize the nativity?  And share it with others? (primary)

 

We were there : A Nativity Story/ Eve Bunting

A snake, scorpion, toad, bat, cockroach, spider, and rat tell how they witnessed the birth of the Christ Child.  Another perspective on the nativity—themes of anticipation, expectation, and "waiting"  abound in this book.  It’s poetic.  (PS on up)

 

December / Eve Bunting

A homeless family's luck changes after they help an old woman who has even less than they do at Christmas.  Shows that not all families celebrate Christmas in the same way….yet the theme of the real meaning of Christmas shines through.  Good for discussion after reading. (primary on up)

Jacob's gift / Max Lucado

A young carpenter's apprentice works very hard on his woodworking project, only to give it away to a special baby.  Even though this is the author’s idea of what might have happened, it does a good job of getting across the message that God gives us each gifts and wants us to use them. (Primary and up)

Saint Nicholas / Ann Tompert

This book helps show how "Santa Claus" evolved from a real person, Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, who lived over 1,000 years ago. The book blends fact and legend.  The illustrations look like "mosaics" from a 4^th century Mediterranean world.

The Christmas story / retold & illustrated by Carol Heyer

Presents the story of Jesus and Christmas and encourages readers to learn the spiritual meaning of holiday gift-giving.  The biblical story of Christ’s birth retold with simple illustrations and in such a way as to tell why we give and receive gifts at Christmas. (intermediate)

 

Saint Francis and the Christmas donkey / Robert Byrd

Saint Francis, who loves all animals, explains to a sullen donkey why his kind have always had to work hard, but also tells him of a donkey's role in the first Christmas. (Adults need to read the notes in the back of the book and share that with children.)(intermediate)

 

The Christmas visitor / by Anneliese Lussert

Simon expects a visit from a king and a royal reward for his hospitality, but when a beggar turns up at his door instead, he learns the satisfaction of giving.

 

The animals' Christmas carol / Helen Ward.

Many different animals come to bestow their own special gifts on the newborn Christ Child.

This book gives us a new perspective to a traditional Christmas Carol (all ages)

 

The beasts of Bethlehem / verse by X.J. Kennedy

Presents nineteen poems, each in the voice of a creature that was present in the stable at the time of Christ's birth. This book has striking woodcut illustrations.  Each poem lends itself to symbolism.  Don’t try to read all this at once.  Read a page or two a day…think about the message…savor… (intermediate on up)

Long was the winter road they traveled: a tale of the nativity / J. Patrick Lewis

This book adults will like as much or more than the children.  The Christmas story is told in verse by Ohio poet J. Patrick Lewis.  Text is accompanied by exquisite illustrations. (primary on up)

 

The fourth wise man / based on the story by Henry Van Dyke ; retold by Susan Summers

Because he is helping others, a fourth Wise Man delays journeying with the other Magi to see the newborn Jesus, but thirty-three years later he has an unusual opportunity to meet his Savior.  Read the "Afterword" in the back of the book  to get a better background before you read the story.  Lends itself to discussion.  (intermediate and up)

 

 

 

 

Fredericktown United Methodist Church

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