Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin (Columbus, OH), November 11, 2009
Mary’s First Christmas tells the story of the Nativity from Mary’s perspective. In the story, Mary is talking to her 5-year-old son Jesus. Jesus has a gash in his forehead caused by a stone thrown at him. As Mary tends to the wound, she begins telling the story of his life.
The book is divided into 4 chapters. Each relates a different part of the story. In chapter 1, Mary doesn’t start her story with that blessed night in Bethlehem; instead, she begins with her encounter with the angel nine months before Jesus’ birth. The angel tells her she will have a son and she will call him Jesus. Mary tells Jesus how excited she was to receive such wonderful news.
Chapter 2 begins with her telling Joseph the news. At first, Joseph is very angry because he thinks Mary has been with another man. Then an angel visits him and tells him he is to wed Mary and raise the child as his own.
Chapter 3 is the story of Jesus’ actual birth. Mary tells Jesus how she & Joseph traveled to Bethlehem and couldn’t find a place to spend the night. They were forced to bed down in a stable with the animals & that’s where Jesus was born.
In chapter 4, Mary tells Jesus about the three wise men who came to visit when Jesus was nearly 2 months old. The wise men warned Mary and Joseph that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, so the family fled to Egypt to keep him safe. After King Herod died, the family went back to Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Mary tells him he will face a life of sorrow & hardship but that he would be “the one to heal the dangers & hatred and sin of the world.”
The language of the text is poetic and lyrical. Here’s a sample:“On the night you were born the whole sky exploded with love,& the angels shouted, & more than a thousand thousand hearts were in love with my baby Jesus on his birthday!” The colorful, vivid and incredibly life-like illustrations, by Timothy Ladwig, are a feast for the eyes & the text is music to the ears.
Christian Children's Book Review
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ellen Kuebler (Cincinnati, Ohio), December 15, 2007
I bought this book three years ago as a Christmas story for my second grade class at school. Each year the children are fascinated by the beautiful art work and the way the author shows Jesus as a boy growing up like one of them. They also enjoy seeing the story in a new way told by a mother - like theirs - who loves her son very much.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Marla (Cromwell, CT), November 28, 2005
We love this book and use it as a story and as an advent devotional for our younger children. The pictures, story and angle of the story gives a new perspective for children at Christmas.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cynthia Harden (Ft. Leavenworth, KS), December 05, 2000
This is a truly wonderful book. I fell in love with the artwork on the cover, bought it and have not regretted once. My children love to read and re-read this loving story. It was their idea to give a copy to each of their cousins this Christmas. It is, as I have said, a wonderful book. Mary is telling a young Jesus(approximate age of 8) the story of his birth. The realism of the artwork, and the simple story made the true meaning of Christmas come alive for my children.
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