The Very First Christmas Stocking and the Gifts of the Seven Coins

Name: The Very First Christmas Stocking and the Gifts of the Seven Coins
Author: Terry Paul Lafargue
ISBN: 978-1-4575-5027-0

by Terry Paul Lafargue illustrated by Kathryn Harper ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2016

A strange, original Christmas tale that suggests a sweet family tradition within an anachronistic adventure.

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When two young angels crash-land their shooting star in a shepherd’s meadow on the first Christmas Eve, they begin a journey that may sprout some family rituals in this debut picture book.

On a clear night, a shepherd named Mr. David; his wife, Ms. Elizabeth; and their five children admire the beautiful bright star in the heavens. Suddenly, their lives are turned upside-down by Gabe and Gabriella, two angel children who have come, via a flying-carlike shooting star, to invite the family to welcome the baby Jesus into the world. When Betsy, the youngest child, says she’s sad they have no presents to give the baby for his birthday, Gabe supplies an answer, giving each of them a blank silver coin. As the shepherd family travels with Gabriella to Bethlehem, each coin takes on a virtue represented by its giver: sharing, integrity, friendship, joy, forgiveness, kindness, and love. When the clan reaches the stable, it presents Ms. Mary with the gifts for the baby, which she places in special pockets of a stocking she made for her child. The next day, the shepherd and his family discover they, too, have been given stockings to hang on their hearth, and each is given a similar coin, with the instruction to share them with each other over the year in a charming practice some readers might embrace. The angel children bring the holy family to join the shepherd’s clan for a feast and party, complete with pony rides and birthday cake. Some readers familiar with the story of the first Christmas may enjoy LaFargue’s anachronistic twists, from the family naming conventions to the integration of modern customs like stockings and cake. Others, however, may find these juxtapositions jarring and be distracted by the reinforced traditional gender roles (Ms. Elizabeth bakes for her family as the story opens; only the girls offer to babysit Jesus; Gabriella never suggests driving the shooting star herself). While young readers should delight in Harper’s joyful and colorful illustrations, which navigate the odd tale well, they are unlikely to be patient enough for the lengthy text.

A strange, original Christmas tale that suggests a sweet family tradition within an anachronistic adventure.

Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4575-5027-0

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dog Ear

Review Posted Online: April 20, 2017

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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OWL BABIES

by Martin Waddell & illustrated by Patrick Benson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1992

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Three little white owls perch outside their cozy nest, wishing Mother would come home. In Waddell's simple, repetitive, carefully fashioned text, each is unique: Sarah, the largest, makes comforting remarks; Percy seconds them, but doubtfully; while little Bill just keeps saying, ``I want my mommy!'' Owl Mother does come, of course: ``WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS? You knew I'd come back.'' Benson's soft, wide-eyed birds—rendered in delicate pen strokes touched with gentle color that makes the dramatic, dark night seem appropriately awesome—are perfect stand-ins for wise little toddlers who also know Mom will turn up—but still can't help wondering. (Picture book. 1-5)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992

ISBN: 1-56402-101-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

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CAPTAIN SMALL PIG
by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Susan Varley

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THE SUPER HUNGRY DINOSAUR
by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Leonie Lord

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SLEEP TIGHT, LITTLE BEAR
by Martin Waddell & illustrated by Barbara Firth

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BUNNY MONEY

From the Max & Ruby series

by Rosemary Wells & illustrated by Rosemary Wells ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1997

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In the siblings' latest adventure, their grandmother is having a birthday (again! see Bunny Cakes, p. 67), so Ruby takes Max shopping. A music box with skating ballerinas is Ruby's idea of the perfect present; Max favors a set of plastic vampire teeth. Ruby's $15 goes fast, and somehow, most of it is spent on Max. The music box of Ruby's dreams costs $100, so she settles for musical earrings instead. There isn't even a dollar left for the bus, so Max digs out his lucky quarter and phones Grandma, who drives them home—happily wearing her new earrings and vampire teeth. As ever, Wells's sympathies are with the underdog: Max, in one-word sentences, out-maneuvers his officious sister once again. Most six- year-olds will be able to do the mental subtraction necessary to keep track of Ruby's money, and Wells helps by illustrating the wallet and its dwindling contents at the bottom of each page where a transaction occurs. Younger children may need to follow the author's suggestion and have an adult photocopy the ``bunny money'' on the endpapers, so they can count it out. Either way, the book is a great adjunct to primary-grade math lessons. (Picture book. 4-7)