An edifying and wholly original take on the Nativity.
The story of the first Christmas, interspersed with facts that will surprise readers of all ages.
Addressing Joseph’s occupation, McGuire notes that “the Bible uses the word carpenter more broadly to mean ‘builder.’” Joseph likely worked with stone, the material that most buildings in the Middle East were made from. Similarly, the manger in which the baby Jesus was laid was probably a large stone hollowed out to hold feed for animals. And the stable where Mary gave birth? It was more likely the first floor of a house, where animals were kept so that their warmth could heat up the rest of the home. The author discusses the donkey Mary rode into Bethlehem, the camels that carried the wise men through the desert, and the Awassi, a common Middle Eastern breed of sheep. Each spread advances the traditional tale while adding background details that will enrich readers’ understanding of everything from the shepherds and angels to the Roman Empire, which controlled Judaea (referred to here as Israel) at the time; McGuire even touches on the linen that swaddled the newborn Jesus. A map depicting the area between the Nile and Jordan Rivers precedes a lengthy bibliography—a testament to the author’s detailed research. Showing beautiful use of light, the earth-toned spreads are filled with soft colors and adorable animals. Most characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired.
An edifying and wholly original take on the Nativity. (Picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780310170211
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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