Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant

by Tomie dePaola

Children dressed as Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and the three wise men perform in their school Christmas pageant. The book opens with a scene of the class getting ready-hanging stars, painting scenery, and putting on costumes as a sheep on wheels "looks on." Then the story of the first Christmas unfolds in a simple text narrated by a red-headed boy. Tomie dePaola's bright colors and appealing scenes full of warmth and humor provide an original approach to a well-loved story in a board book perfect for the very young.

Originally published in 1978 as The Christmas Pageant in a longer picture book version, Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant with new text will delight a whole new audience.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Picture Books

32 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Abigail]

Prolific children's author and illustrator Tomie dePaola retells the Nativity Story in this holiday board book, presenting it in the guise of a play put on by a group of schoolchildren. The text includes all of the elements of the traditional story, while the artwork shows children dressed up to play the parts...

Published in 2002, Tomie's Little Christmas Pageant is an adaptation of dePaola's earlier 1978 picture book, The Christmas Pageant , using the same artwork, and a similar framing device of a child's play, but significantly simplifying the text. I read the picture book first, as part of my deeper dive into dePaola's work, and then sought out this later adaptation. I wouldn't say that either are destined to become favorites, either as retellings of the Nativity Story, or as works by this creator, but I'm glad to have read them, and think young children—particularly those who enjoy dePaola's artwork—might find them appealing.

[KaitandMaddie]

This was a decent retelling of the Christmas story and maybe the first time I’ve introduced the girls to the tale of Jesus’s birth.

[Therese Thompson]

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Cute, but not as popular as Who Built the Stable.

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[Beverly]

A much simplified, text-wise, version of the 1978 original book.

[Jessica]

A very cute board book about the story of Jesus being born. The illustrations are all children putting on their Christmas Eve pageant. Lovely illustrations from Tomie dePaola, as always.

[Lynn Davidson]

In this little board book the story of the first Christmas is well presented. The beautiful illustrations are of children putting on a Christmas play. Their play is about when baby Jesus was born, and the children - with cute props - are playing the parts of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, angels, and the wise men.

[Brandielle]

Simple telling of the Christmas story in a board book. Perfect for toddlers.