Title: The Nativity
Author: Julie Vivas
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Published: Scholastic
ISBN: 1862910529
Themes: Jesus, Christmas, Advent, Mary and Joseph, Angels, Nativity…
This beautiful book, illustrated by Julie Vivas tells the story of Jesus’ birth. The story begins with the Angel appearing to Mary, telling her that she will give birth to Jesus and ends with the new family setting off for home.
You buy this book for the illustrations, the beautiful way that Julie uses the water colours, the extraordinary imagery, the beauty at which you see Mary getting bigger, the innocence that the baby Jesus shows and the fascinating way that the angels are portrayed. The angel that appears to Mary is wearing Doc Martin boots, the colourful wings and the playful nature that Julie portrays the angels is well worth the purchase price for this book.
I particularly loved the way that the angels came to the shepherds and played with the sheep. This book is full of Joy…
Some people may be shocked to find the language to be based on the old KJV text, it’s true and I do think that the book could have been better off if it used as much creative license in telling the story as Julie had used in painting the story, or perhaps by not including any text at all and just allowing the beautiful water paintings to do the talking.
But, that being said I still love to pull this book out over Advent and muse over the images of angels celebrating the birth of a remarkable baby, climbing on sheep and a very pregnant and beautiful mother to be staring at her pregnant body.
It really is a joyful book.
My Rating: 
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