Das ist der Stern

by Joyce Dunbar, Gary Blythe

Joyce Dunbar's simple but majestic retelling of the Nativity is magnificently complemented by the truthfulness and quiet mystery of Gary Blythe's oil paintings. It is a book that captures the profoundly poetic spell of the Christmas story, placing it freshly in our midst to inspire both young and old alike.

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

Hardcover

First published October 3, 1996

About the author

Joyce Dunbar is an English author of over seventy children’s books, best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse and Mole series. Born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, she studied English at Goldsmiths College before teaching drama until hearing loss led her to write full time in 1989. Her first children’s book appeared when she was 35, followed by works such as Mundo and the Weather-Child, which explored the experiences of a deaf child and earned critical recognition. Her stories have been adapted for stage, television, and interactive media, with Mouse and Mole becoming a 26-part animated series. She has also been an advocate for deaf awareness, cycling across Cuba for charity. Dunbar lives in Norwich.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and sweet. Dunbar tells the first Christmas story through rhyming text which builds page by luxuriously beautiful page. The artwork is near photographically-perfect, with just enough variance for mystery. Sure to be a favorite read-aloud for all ages.

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The meter and rhyme make this book lyrical and engaging, and the illustrations are endearing and sweet.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems a strange time of year to be reading a book like this but when I saw the glorious, mystical oil paintings by Gary Blythe that illustrate it, I just had to read it and, although the story is, obviously, the one we know so well, it is quite a different journey viewed through those paintings.

'This is the Stat' is written in verse, which is presented in rather a unique way as it is cumulative with new thoughts being added to those previously read ... and it works wonderfully well.

We begin with a simple line, 'This is the star in the sky' and Blythe's superb atmospheric, empty landscape with the star centre piece shining away captures the moment so well. Shepherd's see the star, an angel visits the shepherd's and the donkey, 'with precious load/Trudging the weary road' are all beautifully represented.

The cumulative poem continues as the inn is full but we come to 'a manger warm with hay/Where a new born baby lay' and then there are the gifts 'the gold, and fragrant myrrh/And frankincense' placed there by the three wise men, 'who also saw and followed the star'. And the close-up, full face painting of the three wise men is perhaps the most impressive in the book.

Two representations of 'the child that was born' follow, one with him lying in the hay and the other a longer distant shot of the open stable with the scene inside beautifully lit (rather in the style of Joseph Wright of Derby, - 'Experiment with an air pump' - I felt).

Finally the sun sets and 'Still shines the star in the sky.' It is a magnificent book that is a delight to read and admire ... and I did just that three times, one after the other!

[Josette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7 year old, Aidan, voted that we give this book 5 stars! It uses a repetitive, building rhyme to tell the Christmas story (don't be surprised--the author uses a word for donkey that rhymes with "pass", but it's o.k.--she's from England). Aidan says "the illustrations are magical!". One of our favorites!

[Nihou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artistry in this book is magnificent. It really reflects the glory I imagine the shepherds experienced on that first Christmas night. It treats the Christmas story with reverence and is an absolute classic in our household.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nativity story that reads like "This is the House that Jack Built."

Ages: 4+

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of the birth of Christ using lyrical rhyming text in a cumulative style. Coming into the holiday season, this would be a lovely book to share with young readers. Although, as a warning to Sunday School teachers or librarians who might use this book as a read aloud - the book uses the word "ass" in reference to an animal at the inn where Mary and Joseph stop for the night; and while it definitely SHOULDN'T be an issue, with some kids it might. And since it is a cumulative tale, it is used many times in the story. So definitely consider your audience when choosing this book.

[Sarah Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Star... This is the .... that is ... A simple concept, with one line repeated on almost every page, it will engage children of all ages with the word pictures and rhythmic pattern, and the author is magnificent at using descriptive imagery to portray the very special event of the precious birth.

The author's simple but descriptive book focuses on the star that still shines in the sky tonight but adds statements straight from the Bible's content on the birth of the newborn King.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in verse and rhyme, this story reads like "This is the House that Jack Built". The illustrations are beautiful and I enjoyed everything about it except that the author used the word for donkey that rhymes with "sass". For that reason alone I wouldn't feel comfortable to read it to children because it would either send them into giggle fits or give them a new vocabulary word that I wouldn't want them to repeat.

[Della Tingle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and I love the format of the book like “This is the house that Jack built.” However, I do a LOT of read-alouds, and “ass” is written multiple times in this book. I know an ass is a donkey, but my kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students would lose it if I read “ass” to them! There are just too many other Christmas books to read, so that I can pass on this one without too much reluctance.

[CarolynAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short Christmas 'Poem' that has been an important part of my Christmas decorations since 1997. I read it every year... it takes 5 minutes but always fills me with the true Christmas spirit.

[Eileen Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the Nativity story told in the style of “ A partridge in a pear tree” . I had children line up shoulder to shoulder and gave each a symbol from the story, and each time their symbol was mentioned they lifted it up. They were totally engaged, everyone from pre-k thru grade 5.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A traditional retelling of the Nativity told in rhyming cumulative verses with stunning oil illustrations. A beautiful picture book!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely
The page with the angel appearing to the shepherds may be one of the more realistic in Christmas books!

12/26/20 Read with Julia

[Jessica Kuznicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome pictures!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's book about Jesus' birth. Simplified story, beautiful illustrations. It builds on itself, much like The House that Jack Built (This is the star. These are the shepherds who followed the star.), which is engaging and fun for a certain age set. But it can get a bit annoying for the grown-ups who are asked to read it (an already repetitive story) again and again. Still, good choice for the preschool set.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice cumulative telling of the birth of Christ. It begins with the star and includes each important character...the mother Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and animals, the angels, the wise men, the star, and of course, the baby Jesus.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the first Christmas told in the similar rhyme and rhythm of the story "The House That Jack Built."

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. I think this book will be even better next year, when the kids are a little older.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive got the mini book in my bag

[Chrislin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is soooooo beautifuland important I have a softcover copy and hardcover.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book. The poetry and the pictures are well-done. But I really dislike the idea of angels with big feathery wings.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but minor problems.

TITLE: THIS IS THE STAR
AUTHOR: JOYCE DUNBAR
ILLUSTRATOR: GARY BLYTHE

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is a "this is the house that Jack built" style building narrative, but the pictures are what I really love about this book. My favorite angel and wise men images live here!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the rhythm and repetition of the story (reminds me of Arnold Lobel's This is the Rose in my Garden). Gorgeous illustrations. Christ-centered Christmas story for the little ones.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

December 2016 - cumulative and nice to read aloud, but not quite straight-forward enough for learning the Christmas story.

[Lisa Rathbun]

Beautiful illustrations