Many young children have a difficult time understanding the historical orientation of long ago and far away. Aided by innovative design and Nolan’s light-filled illustrations, this thoughtful, understated story skillfully contrasts some of the differences between three modern children in a snowy, rural setting with the Nativity scene in Bethlehem, in terms that even very young children can understand. The text in the first few spreads showing the modern children explains that there was no snow or ice or need for warm clothing on the first Christmas Eve. The setting then smoothly shifts to Bethlehem, with shimmering heat, a burro and a camel for transportation and very different living conditions. In just a few sentences, all the key concepts of the Nativity story are introduced in lovely, poetic language with evocative images and rich vocabulary. Those arriving to celebrate the birth include a more comprehensive group of both wise men and women, as well as three barefoot children who provide a touching echo of the children in the first pages. The illustrations for this well-designed volume are all in double-page spread format in a large size, making this an excellent choice for reading aloud to a group. (Picture book. 2-7)
