The First Christmas Night by Keith Christopher

The First Christmas Night by Keith Christopher is a beautiful retelling of the birth of Jesus on that joyous night in Bethlehem so long ago. The poem begins with the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and winds though Christ’s birth, the angels’ appearance to the shepherds, and the visit by the Wise Men.  The simple, yet elegant, verses will appeal to little ones and are accompanied by the rich acrylic illustrations of Christine Kornacki.

’Twas the very first Christmas when all through the town

not a creature was stirring—there was not a sound.

The moon shining bright in the heavens so high

gave the look of midday to the Bethlehem sky.

The animals were nestled in warm, cozy places

with looks of contentment on each of their faces. 

Ideals Books is the publisher of this charming 32 page hardcover book. Perfect for a 4-8 year old due to the rhyming language that helps them develop verbal language skills and learn to read. Not only is this book great for Family Story Time during the holidays, it is a wonderful addition for the libraries for Children's Ministers and Sunday school teachers! Musically inclined? Christmas carolers could set it to a tune! I found myself humming The First Noel as I read.

Very reminiscent of "Twas The Night before Christmas" in style, this has a poetic feel that flows smoothly with a rhythm that is very pleasing. The story is told in a simple style suitable for young children and gives them an overall summary of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The Biblical story of the First Christmas, as written in Luke 2:1, 4-16, 20 and Matthew 2:1-2, 9b-11 is also included at the end of the book. I loved this added touch! The gorgeous illustrations add a beauty to the book that will delight all. Even those too young to read for themselves will want to look at these. This is sure to be a treasured book in your family and one you will want to enjoy for years to come.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from FlyBy Promotions Blogger Networkin exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

GIVEAWAY!! FlyBy Promotions also has a copy to give to one of my readers. Leave a comment telling me who you want to read this story to this Christmas season. Contest ends at 11am (CST) on Wednesday, December 11, 2013.

Bonus: As an added treat, I saw that the illustrator, Christine Kornacki,  had a coloring sheet available for download. Click here to download.

About the Author

Keith Christopher is a composer, arranger, orchestrator, and educator, and he has served as editor and producer for several major music publishers. In addition to writing and studio producing, Keith served on the faculty at the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.

 About the Illustrator 
At a very early age, Christine Kornacki developed a love for painting and bringing stories to life. After receiving a BFA in illustration from the University of Hartford, her dreams of illustrating children's books began to take shape, including illustrating the best-selling The Sparkle Box for Ideal's Children's Books. Christine's recent work also includes illustrating the six-book series for the American Girl historical doll characters Marie-Grace and Cecile.  She spends her days painting in her studio, which adjoins a charming cafe in New Haven, Connecticut.