A Christmas Story

by Brian Wildsmith (Illustrator)

A beautiful version of the Christmas story including a young girl, Rebecca, who watched their donkey.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Holiday, Religion, Animals

Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Brian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."

He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.

He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.

Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."

In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.

Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.

— Source

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Wildsmith has a lovely style for painting birds and animals and there are plenty of examples here. The illustrations are very pretty and the story is nicely told from the viewpoint of a little donkey and its mother. This would make a lovely addition to a Christmas story collection.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS The illustrations are captivating. So beautiful! The gold foil really adds to the splendor at the appropriate moments, yet other illustrations are just simple loveliness. This is a nativity story, told from the perspective of the little donkey whose mother takes Mary to Bethlehem.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of the first Christmas from the perspective of a baby donkey who misses his mommy. She went to Bethlehem carrying Mary. The little girl who lived next door, Rebecca, was asked by Joseph and Mary to care for the unnamed baby donkey, but he was so unhappy the girl decided to take the little guy to find his mama. Improbable, but I doubt most young children will worry about that; rather they will relate to the desire to be with their mothers. It is a sweet story which covers all the Biblical basics of Jesus' birth through to the return to Nazareth where Rebecca was his friend growing up.

[Anna Baboura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Όμορφη εικονογράφηση.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little story about a young donkey whose mum has set off on a long journey with a couple named Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph asked a young neighbour to look after the little donkey, but the donkey wouldn't eat, so Rebecca and the little donkey set off to find his mum...
Various events in the Christmas story are depicted in the lovely pictures, mainly in the background of pictures of Rebecca and the donkey's stops to ask if anyone has seen a couple and a donkey. In case anyone is in any doubt, Rebecca finds Mary, Joseph and the donkey.
My copy of this book is mall - roughly the size of one of Beatrix Potter's little books - and is all the more enchanting for that!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated variation of the birth of Jesus story illustrated in detailed paintings by Brian Wildsmith. Wildsmith usually focuses on animals in his works and yes, the first painting has plenty of birds and animals in its details. The following illustrations have the elements of the biblical story. Several paintings have gold accentuated in appropriate places. A lovely peaceful slightly Christmas story.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story teaches children the importance of the Christmas religious story.

I would recommend this book because it helps children to look at the Christmas story from the donkeys perspective. I also enjoyed the pictures because they were bright and colourful which I thought symbolised the birth of Jesus well.

[Annamária · Rating 5 out of 5]

Csodálatos kiadás, az aranyszínű lapok csak úgy ragyognak és emelik a mese ünnepélyességét. A betlehemi történetet teljesen újszerű szemszögből meséli el a könyv, mely gyerekszemmel nézve nagyon kedves, ugyanakkor a történelmi hűséget is megtartja nagy vonalakban. Karácsony előtt, alatt szívesen ajánlom ezt a könyvet kisgyerekes családok számára.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fictitious story about a donkey, but it incorporates the story of Christ's nativity in a new and fun narrative. Simple reading for small children, with many of places that the story could be shared in greater depth.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are unusual. Kids liked it!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sweet version of the story, focused on a donkey. Great pictures.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, mediocre text. It's not bad, just not that exciting.

[Lindsay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun illustrations. Simple story.

[Becca Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous pictures and a fun read.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply gorgeous illustrations to go along with the nativity story.

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

All our holidays and special occasions are marked with books for the Grands. I've been reading Christmas books to find the perfect ones for our Grands this Christmas.

I wasn't terribly enamored of the story in A Christmas Story which is a fictionalized story of the Nativity but, my gosh, the illustrations are magnificently incredible.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be a creative addition for family Christmas reading. Its storyline not only includes the traditional Bible narrative but also the introduction of a fictional character, Rebecca, and a little donkey, who add a twist to the "story" without changing its underlying meaning. A winning illustrator for several of Britain's Kate Greenaway Medals, Wildsmith created intricate artwork with eye-catching gold inserts that will capture the attention of both children and adults.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice version of the Nativity story. Beautiful illustrations and kept DS's attention throughout. Worked well when I related it to the Nativity Advent book we've been doing.

More questions the 2nd year, still a beautiful book.

[Lizziebeth10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most gorgeous Christmas book out there. Be sure to get the large version; it also comes in a miniature edition which, while pretty, is not nearly as rich and beautiful as the full-size one.

[Suzy Ruskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with all of our Santa books to give the kids a little perspective. They're still not sure what to make of Baby Jesus and Santa. Alex wants to know if Santa brings presents for Jesus too?

[SmokingMirror · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beguiles with its gold leaf touches on the pictures. The story itself is a bit thin.