"CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!"

Artwork by Niko Chocheli

This is the greeting that is happily proclaimed among Orthodox Christians on Christmas Day.  Not that there's anything wrong with "Merry Christmas!" - we exchange that greeting as well - but "CHRIST IS BORN!  GLORIFY HIM" just really says it all, as it carries in it the meaning of life for us as Christians.  And I can't think of two better books that "say it all" for December 24th and 25th, than these:

PREPARE O BETHLEHEM:  THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY, by Niko Chocheli. Luminously illustrated verses from Orthodox hymns of the prefeast and feast of the Nativity.  To read my past post about this artist and his books, click here.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD by Sister Elayne (now Mother Melania), illustrations by Bonnie Gillis.  Beautifully rendered watercolors accompany the poetic telling of the birth of Christ.  To read more about Mother Melania and her books, click here.  (Be watching for a post from me about all her books, coming soon!)

That's the end of my "40 Books for 40 Days" Advent Christmas book list.  I hope you liked it!   Have a Merry Christmas as we celebrate our Lord's Nativity...

What shall we offer You, O Christ, 

who for our sakes has appeared on earth

as a man?

Every creature made by You 

offers You thanks,

the angels offer You a hymn;

the heavens a star; the magi gifts;

The shepherds, their wonder; the earth

its cave;

the wilderness, the manger;

and we offer You a virgin mother.

O pre-eternal God, have mercy on us!

-THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

DECEMBER 25

VESPERS

MY FAVORITE NATIVITY BOOK, ILLUSTRATED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS

Ruth Sanderson illustrated one of our family's favorite Christmas read-alouds, THE NATIVITY.  If you followed my blog over the summer, you know about her many wonderful children's books - fairytales and horse stories, as well as lives of the saints books.  


Ruth's luminous, detailed illustrations vividly portray the story taken directly from the Gospel books of Matthew and Luke; and with Byzantine-like iconographic elements and elaborate borders, her pictures take on the look of an illuminated manuscript.

In this post, I also wanted to include a recent artwork montage produced by Ruth Sanderson, set to music by Tchikovsky, from the ballet SLEEPING BEAUTY. It's a celebration of 100 years of artwork on the theme of Sleeping Beauty, featuring her own and many other artists' renderings. If you have any daughters, they will really enjoy it. And you can find THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, written by Jan Yolen, with Ruth's beautiful illustrations, at your local library, used bookstore, or on Amazon!  

TWO ARTISTS TAKE ON THE SAME CHRISTMAS STORY, AUTHORED BY FRANK McCOURT

ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (best for ages 8 and up).
This unique book by Frank McCourt, has been printed in two editions by different publishers and illustrators, in order to offer an adult and child's adaptation of the same text. Inspired by his own mother's childhood experience, McCourt's story is set in Ireland, around 1912.  (The friend who recommended this book to me, reads it to her children in an Irish brogue!)

The tale begins when six-year-old Angela, the youngest child in her Irish-Catholic family, sees the baby Jesus naked, cold and alone in her church's Nativity creche and decides to take him home in order to wrap him in a warm blanket. What ensues on her journey home is quite humorous. Later, her older brother Pat blurts out her secret to the family, while their whole parish wonders with sadness and shock: who stole the Baby Jesus? You'll love how Angela and her brother's sibling rivalry tensions are resolved in a very satisfying and poignant ending.

I found the two artists' styles and interpretations in bringing this story to life fascinating.  You can read their perspectives (reprinted from AMAZON) in their own words below:

Loren Long on the Fireside Scene from Angela and the Baby Jesus (adult version):
Usually little Angela would want to be right in the middle of the action as the family sits by the fire and talks. But not this time--she has a secret upstairs.
At this point in the story, I'm giving the reader a seat behind the family in the shadows away from the fire. At the same time we, the readers, know about Angela's secret in the bedroom upstairs and we see her hanging back from the others, sneaking peeks up the staircase. We can see that she has something more important on her mind than her family's chattering.


In my visual interpretation of Angela and the Baby Jesus, I wanted to tap into Frank McCourt's sophisticated blend of gritty realism and subtle humor. For this reason, I specifically chose a limited color palette. I worked with acrylics on canvas and tried to keep the paintings a bit edgy and raw.


Choosing images came naturally when working on this story. I was taken with the balance of reverence, innocence, and humor in Frank’s text and I simply tried to come up with creative ways to portray these elements in a subtle but hopefully profound way. --Loren Long

Raul Colon on the Fireside Scene from Angela and the Baby Jesus (child version):
This image for Frank McCourt's Angela and the Baby Jesus picture book came to me just by thinking of a warm fireplace on a cold night.


In this particular scene the family sits around the fire to chat after tea. Angela's little brother is giving up the secret that the "Baby Jesus" is in the bed upstairs. Angela shows a bit of worry in her face, since she quietly snuck the "baby" into the house. Surely she'll be in trouble now.


Throughout the story I hardly show any of the adult faces, focusing mainly on the children's world. Hence, Mother's back is turned toward us. I also cut off the little brother's face by having Mother's turn-of-the-century hairdo get in the way (A little thing I learned from the great artist Degas.) It gives the scene intimacy, as if the viewer is there taking a snapshot with his camera. All in all a fun and rewarding book to illustrate. It was an honor to turn McCourt's words into actual pictures. --Raul Colon

Frank McCourt died in 2009. You can listen to this interview with the author about his book...

A PARADOXICAL SETTING FOR THE BIRTH OF A KING!

CHRISTMAS NIGHT, FAIR AND BRIGHT by Julie Stiegemeyer, illustrations by Melissa Iwai. (ages 3-7). If you're looking for a book that emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas for even the youngest of children, look no farther!

In simple rhyming words, Julie Stiegemeyer expertly recreates the sights and sounds of the first Christmas and at the same time, emphasizes the two natures of Christ -- His abject humility in his simple birth and His ultimate divinity as our King and Saviour. With each verse, Jesus' perfect life and death on our behalf is communicated:  "Jesus, born for us."

Most of this telling takes place in the humble stall -- the paradoxical setting for the birth of the King of kings and the Lord of lords:

Frankincense hangs in the air.

Stars are twinkling everywhere.

A child is born beyond compare -

Jesus, born for us.

Jesus has no kingly hall.

Jesus has no fortress tall.

Home becomes a cattle stall

for Jesus, born for us.

So sequined stars become a crown,

night, a robe to wrap around;

God's own Son to earth came down.

He's Jesus, born for us."

This book predictably recounts the events of that first Christmas, but it includes the flight to Egypt as well. It also alludes to the crucifixion. Melissa Iwai's illustrations are perfect for the 3-7 age group.  Her brightly colored images have less detail than those for older children, but still capture the drama and reality of the events on that dark night in Bethlehem, when Christ, the Light of the World, was born.

To see more books by Julie Stiegemeyer, click here.

MORE CHRISTMAS IN SILHOUETTE

On with my "40 Books for 40 Days" CHRISTMAS BOOK LIST...
I think I'll let these books speak for themselves!  Enjoy Jan Pienkowski's gorgeous silhouette art from THE FIRST CHRISTMAS and THE FIRST NOEL.

The First Christmas by Jan Pienkowski.

Also by Jan Pienkowski:
The First Noel: A Christmas Carousel

 

Book opens to make a beautiful centerpiece for your  table!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!

Every year, starting when my own children were little, the youngest members of our parish would put on a Christmas Pageant.  It usually consisted of some kind of re-telling of the Christmas story, through narration and Christmas songs.  We parents did our best to organize it, stifling back laughter - and blinking back tears - at the sight of "bearded" Wisemen balancing lop-sided crowns, shepherds in bathrobes, shy angels, and stable animals who looked more child-like than bovine.

However, the title of my blog is not referring to my church's annual Children's Christmas Program (even though, in my opinion, it's always the "best ever" and by coincidence is tonight!), but to one of the most hilarious and heartwarming Christmas books I've ever read.  You'll love it, whether you have kids or not!

The story, written by Barbara Robinson, is about six very unruly children who end up teaching a whole church about the true meaning of Christmas. According to the young girl who is the narrator of the story, the Herdmans are absolutely and without question the worst kids "in the entire history of the world".  (They lie, steal, cuss and smoke cigars - even the girls.) When they take over the church Christmas pageant (although none of them has ever attended church, much less heard the Nativity story before), the story of the first Christmas becomes new and real in some pretty surprising ways.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson (ages 9 to adult).

CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER

A cute board book for babies and toddlers - with artwork by the illustrator of the IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE books, Felicia Bond:

CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck.  Sweet and gentle telling of the Nativity story for the very youngest, a "pat and peek" book with a rhyming text from the point of view of the animals, shepherds, Mary and Joseph.  The last line is so sweet,

"I am the baby asleep in the hay, and I am the reason for Christmas Day".

The "Big Reveal"

My son and I ceremoniously (and excitedly) drew all my comment poster's names out of a crisp brown lunch bag this morning before he left for class.  We are happy to announce that fellow-blogger,

Marfa (thescrumptiouslife.blogspot.com) 

is the winner of my ADVENT GIFT GIVE-AWAY!  Congratulations, Marfa!

I'm sending her a fun storybook Advent calendar, donated by Chinaberry (available here) and Mother Melania's The Nativity of Our Lord, from The Benefactory.  I'm always a little sad when I don't win a drawing  - so....if you posted comments and didn't win, but post a comment again today on this entry, I'll send you The Nativity of Our Lord, too!  (my treat! As a thank you for supporting me in this first year of blogging!) It's the book for December 25th on my LIST.  You'll love it!

THE CHRISTMAS BOOK LIST

O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D!  Most of us feel that way at some point during the holidays.  To avoid feeling un-prepared and un-organized, I pray, keep my calendar handy, and try to make lists - gift lists, shopping lists, to do lists, and Christmas card lists.  So here's a list you don't have to make!  I wanted to post this on the first day of Advent, so that you'll have plenty of time to find some of these good books to share with your children - or give as gifts - this hol(y)day season.

The fact that I observe 40 days of Advent as an Orthodox Christian led me to come up with a list of 40 books.  You by no means have to read them all!  You can tailor the books to your own family.  I tried to find books for all ages, some that capture all the beauty and meaning of Christ's birth, and some just for fun.  Several are by authors and illustrators that you'll have come across in my past blog posts.  There are picture books, poetry, and classics.  Most, I'm sure, are available at your local library.

I'm posting the list in its entirety today, but I plan between now and December 25th to write about each book.  I listed books for younger children and the more secular stories first.  The books I assigned to  December are those that are especially meaningful leading up to the Holy Nativity.  Many of these were our family's favorites, but some are recently published.  Do you have any to add? Please let me know!  You have until midnight tonight to post a comment and be part of a drawing for my Advent Gift GIVE-AWAY. (11/15/10 - Giveaway is over)

IDEAS FOR MAKING AN "ADVENT CALENDAR OF BOOKS":
-My sister puts a basket filled with all her kids' Christmas books by her fireplace and they read a book each night of Advent (or each night of December) until Christmas.
-My niece told me that she and her husband started a tradition of wrapping books in Christmas paper and either putting them in a basket or under the tree so their twin girls can take turns opening one book each night during Advent (or December) to read aloud - you can supplement with library books - just mark the outside somewhere, so they are read early on and won't be overdue!


40 BOOKS FOR 40 DAYS LIST
November 15 GOD GAVE US CHRISTMAS by Lisa T. Bergren
November 16 MY FIRST CHRISTMAS, by Tomie DePaola
November 17 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Suess
November 18 WHO IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE? by Joseph Slate
November 19 THE TOMTEN by Astrid Lindgren
November 20 I SPY CHRISTMAS
November 21 THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN by Allan Ahlberg
November 22 LOOK ALIKES CHRISTMAS by Joan Steiner
November 23 CHRISTMAS TROLLS by Jan Brett
November 24 BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS by Jean De Brunhoff
November 25 CHRISTMAS IN NOISY VILLAGE by Astrid Lindgren
November 26 THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY by Ezra Jack Keats
November 27 THE NUTCRACKER by Susan Jeffers
November 28 MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS! by Julie Stiegemeyer
November 29 CHRISTMAS MICE By Richard Scarry
November 30 CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Walter Wick
December 1 ONE WINTER'S NIGHT by John Herman, Diane Dillon, Leo Dillon
December 2 UNCLE VOVA'S TREE by Patricia Polacco
December 3 LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS by J.R.R. Tolkien
December 4 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: A MAGICAL CUT-PAPER EDITION, Niroot Puutapipat
December 5 SANTA, ARE YOU FOR REAL? by Harold Myra
December 6 (St. Nicholas Day) THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS by Demi
December 7 CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck
December 8 B IS FOR BETHLEHEM, by Isabel Wilner
December 9 THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY
December 10 THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, by O. Henry, illustrations Lizbeth Zwerger
December 11 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson
December 12 THE FIRST CHRISTMAS; THE FIRST NOEL by Jan Pienkowski
December 13 BABUSHKA AND THE THREE KINGS by Ruth Robbins
December 14 THE FRIENDLY BEASTS by Tomie DePaola
December 15 CHRISTMAS NIGHT FAIR AND BRIGHT by Julie Stiegemeyer
December 16 THE MIRACLE OF ST. NICHOLAS by Gloria Whelan
December 17 TAKE JOY! TASHA TUDOR CHRISTMAS BOOK
December 18 WE THREE KINGS by Gennady Spirin
December 19 ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Children's version) by Frank MCourt
ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Adult Edition)
December 20 THE NATIVITY by Ruth Sanderson
December 21 CHRISTMAS POEMS Edited by Hayes and Laughlin
December 22 CHRISTMAS! by Peter Spier
December 23 CHRISTMAS ANGELS by M.J. Hummel
December 24 (Christmas Eve) PREPARE O BETHLEHEM By Niko Chocheli
December 25 (Nativity) THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD by Mother Melania

REMEMBER TO POST A COMMENT TO ENTER MY ADVENT GIVE-AWAY!