Title: The Christmas Journey
Author: Donna VanLiere
Illustrator: Michael Storrings
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
My synopsis: The first section of this beautiful little book tells the Luke 2:1-20 version of the Christmas story. A story that is well-known to most people. The author points out though, that when most people imagine the manger scene that all the hurt and pain have been removed. We just picture a newborn baby, Mary and Joseph, and an angel - happiness and wonder.
The second section of this book tells the Christmas story as it might have happened. It tells all the same things as the Luke version, but it adds in the human emotions that Mary and Joseph might have felt. It lets you imagine the physical pain and exhaustion they must have felt making the long journey to Bethlehem. The fear that must have been present when they realized that Mary was in labor and the only place they could go was a stable. And then the absolute wonder that this little baby was the Son of God.
The entire book is also beautifully illustrated with pictures, that even in their simplicity, carry much feeling. It was a great book to read at Christmas and one I hope to share with my family for many Christmases to come. It brought the Christmas story alive for me and made me really think about the faith of Mary and Joseph - and the trust that they had in one another. It would make a great gift anytime of year, as Christ's birth was one, that even after 2000 years is still remembered and celebrated - so why just remember it on one day.
~I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Anne at Authors on the Web.~
The Christmas Journey
Publisher/Publication Date: St. Martin's Press, Oct 2010
ISBN: 978-0-312-61372-3
96 pages
1 comment:
This one is on my to-buy list because of reviews like this!
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