Long Was the Winter Road They Travelled: A Tale of the Nativity

by J. Patrick Lewis, Drew Bairley (Illustrator)

The birth of Jesus is witnessed by a variety of animals, not just the ox and the lamb, but the spider and the owl, too, all of whom help spread the Good News to the world

Genres: Christmas

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

J. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.

Reviews

[Molly]

Drew Bairley is the artist who created the illustrations in this book. She is an incredibly gifted, prolific artist whose works capture all dimensions of life, especially those not seen. She uses all kinds of media - pencil, crayons, paint, etc. and has a truly unique voice, something really quite rare today. I told her years ago to move to Jackson, WY. I think all the bazillionaires there would go crazy for her work - and she could charge what they are worth and actually sell them. I have no idea where she is today - maybe in Ohio, but I hope she hasn't stopped creating art wherever she hangs her hat and whatever she else she is doing in her life.

My Mom always said her illustrations of the BVM in this beautiful book were so moving to her because they depict Mary the way Mom imagined she would really have been physically, mentally and emotionally feeling, getting ready for the arrival of her child. That has always stayed with me.

[Kevin]

mother and infant
beheld in the half moonlight
owls and hummingbirds

[donewithdora]

The poetry was too abstract for a children's book and we didn't enjoy that. But, the illustrations are really nice.