THE BIRDS OF CHRISTMAS

A Nativity tale that explores the origins of the robin’s red breast.

Raven flies over the city of Bethlehem on a cold, dark night. Suddenly, a dazzling light appears in the sky, and a powerful voice commands Raven to spread the news to the other birds—a special child has been born. Raven does so, and the others plan their gifts for the child. Wren weaves a soft blanket of leaves and moss, while Nightingale practices a sweet lullaby. As birds from all over gather at the stable where the newborn rests, one small bird laments that she has nothing to give. When a particularly icy wind sweeps into the stable, making the baby shiver, the small bird immediately fans the dying fire’s flames with her wings and brings kindling to warm the baby and his mother, Mary. A stray ember lands on the bird, and a patch of red spreads across her chest. The brilliant color is evidence of the creature’s kind heart, Mary proclaims, and it shall be worn proudly by the bird and her descendants. The title page notes that Armstrong’s story is “based on a European folktale,” though it contains no backmatter on the tale’s origins. Regardless, it features evocative descriptions, accompanied by Miroslavova’s eye-catching, pencil-drawn, digitally colored illustrations in a palette of predominantly purplish blues and reddish browns. Thoughtful layouts contribute to the visual elegance. The baby and Mary are both brown-skinned.

A gracefully told Christmas story.