Christmas Story - Hardcover

Ages 3^-9. Chorao adapts and illustrates the King James Version of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew that tell about the birth of Jesus. Retaining the simplicity of the original, the adaptation reads very smoothly and makes the meanings clear for children: "Mary held the child and treasured the glory of his birth in her heart." Chorao's paintings, reminiscent of the work of Renaissance artists, include halos, lots of angels, and a beautifully embellished first letter on each page. She follows the story through the appearance of the wise men and concludes with an illustration of baby Jesus holding a lamb, which is surrounded by a border made up of pictures from Jesus' later life. A satisfyingly traditional retelling. Susan Dove Lempke

Chorao (Number One Number Fun) tailors the Nativity accounts from the King James Bible to a young readership, using slightly simplified language and phrasing. Large, decorated initials on each text page typically feature an animal from the story; scenes awash in her gauzy, cotton-candy palette evoke poses and settings found in many famous Renaissance paintings. Ages 4-8.
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