Bethlehem: With Words from the Authorized Version of the King James Bible

Bethlehem: With Words from the Authorized Version of the King James Bible

A stunning picture book celebrates the wonder, joy, grace, and beauty of Jesus' miraculous birth with gorgeous images inspired by England's stunning stained-glass cathedral windows and with text taken from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke from the King James Bible. K Up-The Nativity story is told here in the timeless words from the King James version of the Bible, selected from both St. Matthew and St. Luke to form a coherent, simple narrative that is a joy to read aloud. The illustrations, inspired by stained-glass windows of England's cathedrals, frame the text in each glowing double-page spread. This is a satisfying choice for families who want a traditional telling of the first Christmas.-V. W. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Ages 4-8. An illustrator in search of the story of Jesus' birth could find no better source than the King James Version of the Gospels of St. Luke and St. Matthew. As in many Christmas pageants for young children, relevant passages are drawn from the two gospels and presented word for word. There is no dumbing down of the language. French illustrates familiar scenes from the Christmas story in a series of double-page spreads inspired by stained-glass windows. Heavy black lines separate geometrically shaped blocks of vivid colors, which are all the more brilliant for their juxtaposition with the black. With its bright colors and bold composition, the art is particularly effective from a distance, which makes the book welcome for reading aloud to groups of children. An eye-catching interpretation of the Christmas story. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Fiona French has written and illustrated many popular books for children. Among them are Snow White in New York, for which Ms. French won England's prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal; Amancy and Mr. Dry-Bone, one of England's Children's Books of the Year in 1992 and winner of the Sheffield Book Award; Little Inchkin; Lord of the Animals: A Miwok Indian Creation Myth; and most recently, Jamil's Clever Cat: A Folk Tale from Bengal. Ms French lives in Norfolk, England.