Baby Jesus Is Born
by Juliet David; Illustrations by Helen Prole
Published by Candle Books/Kregel Publications
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Reviewed by Sarah van Ingen
If you’re looking for a baby or toddler’s first Christmas book, you may want to check out Baby Jesus Is Born. First, this is a block book with thick pages that will easily endure the chewing of a little one. Second, it’s been packaged in a great size for a little person. At about seven inches per side, this book can easily be held by little hands. Another attractive feature of this book is that the simple, delightful illustrations. The characters are cartoon-like and are rendered in the most vibrant colors. Pink, purple, green, blue—the colors really explode off of the page.
The illustrations are a great complement to the simple diction of the written story. Author Juliet David begins her version of the Nativity story with an angel telling Mary that she will soon have a baby. Mary and her husband Joseph then make the long journey to Bethlehem. When they arrive, they can find nowhere to sleep until an innkeeper lets them stay in his stable. That night baby Jesus is born. An angel also appears to nearby shepherds and tells them that this baby will save the world. The shepherds then go into Bethlehem to find this baby. Wise men from far away see a special star in the sky that they believe will lead them to this new baby. They follow the star, and when they find Jesus they give him rich presents. Soon an angel comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him the evil king wants to kill Jesus. So Mary and Joseph take baby Jesus down into Egypt. Finally, when it is safe, they bring him back to a little town called Nazareth where he grows up “to be a good, kind boy.”
The story is told so simply that this won’t be a book to read to a child year after year. Yet, for the months before and after their first or second Christmas, this book will do a great job of telling the basic story. I recommend this book as a fun, practical way of getting the Christmas story into the hands of a toddler in your life.
Armchair Interviews agrees.