Brown Baby Jesus: A Picture Book

by Dorena Williamson, Ronique Ellis (Illustrations)

Celebrate Christmas with this unique retelling of the Nativity story featuring Jesus as a melanated baby in a story that’s rich with Scripture, historical accuracy, and a multicultural weaving of love—from the author of Crowned with Glory.

Like Moses, brown baby Jesus would be a deliverer. Like Rahab, brown baby Jesus would save His people from destruction. Like David, brown baby Jesus would rule as a great king. Like the colorful threads that make up a beautiful cloth, Brown Baby Jesus brings together the characters and stories leading to Jesus—showing how God included many races and nations in the story we celebrate each year.

With an unconventional Christmas setting of Egypt and written in sweet, lyrical prose, Brown Baby Jesus is sure to become a holiday classic embraced by families of all races and backgrounds.

Genres: Picture Books, Religion, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Bunmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating might be editor's bias, but I really loved working on this one!

[Emmie Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our family, we try to be very mindful with how Jesus is represented. So when one of my kiddos saw this title and firmly stated, "wait...Jesus is white," I knew we had missed something. Not that the color of Jesus' skin is the most important part about Him. It isn't! But goodness, what conversations (good, healthy, valuable, redeeming) can occur through a powerful, beautiful, joy-filled picture book.

Dorena has written a stunning book. I was expecting illustrations that portrayed Jesus as darker than me - a nativity story with a non-white Jesus. 🤷‍♀️ You know...a bit more accurately illustrated, but the basic nativity story. This is so much more than that. It weaves Jesus' story of redemption from the generations before beginning in the Garden of Eden (God always had a plan) through Jesus' early years (God is always faithful). Scripture curves through the illustrations, and the story will captivate you and point you to Jesus ❤️

I am so very glad that I picked this book up last week. I'm grateful for my child that put me in my place with a statement I wasnt expecting ;) I'm so very thankful for the grace God extends to all colors...including those like me who physically look nothing like Him 💗

[Marie Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Dorena Williamson weaves the diverse family history of Jesus into the retelling of the Christmas story in a way that makes it easy for children to understand the connections. Brown Baby Jesus certainly piqued my daughter's interest in genealogy as she asked me what other ethnicities and nationalities are in the ancestry of Jesus.

I discover new details with each rereading of this book. If you look closely, the illustrator Ronique Ellis creatively threaded Bible verses in the illustrations and kids will enjoy finding these hidden messages on each spread. Also, take time to look at the endpapers. They are very well done and summarize the Christmas story and show the family tree of Jesus.

Definitely recommend giving Brown Baby Jesus to families this Christmas!

[Tina Cho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown Baby Jesus is a fresh retelling of Jesus’s life from a multicultural perspective. Instead of beginning with Jesus’s birth, Williamson starts with Joseph & Mary’s flee to Egypt with their son. Mary reflects often, giving us a glimpse of Jesus’s birth and meeting Simeon and Anna. Williamson compares brown baby Jesus to baby Moses; both would be deliverers. Mary remembers the stories of Rahab, Ruth, David, Tamar, & Elizabeth and how God worked in their lives. She tells Jesus His family tree, beginning with Adam and Eve through the generations and explains His woolly hair and bronze skin are how God made Him. Ellis does a great job weaving Bible verses throughout the beautifully diverse illustrations.

[Pam Graber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about the early life of Jesus. I loved how the author tied him to other characters of his biblical lineage. The author doesn't say it, but culturally, it's true that the baby Jesus was likely brown-skinned, or far more olive-skinned than the babe is traditionally depicted. This book is rooted in the scriptures and includes the actual references for each of the stories that get brought into Jesus' life story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an original, beautiful picture book that begins when Jesus and his parents are escaping for a new life in Egypt. Throughout the story and against the backdrop of their time in Egypt, his parents are teaching him who he is. Beautiful scriptures and sweet text present a portion of Christ's life that is rarely discussed and examined.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so grateful to author Dorena Williamson and illustrator Ronique Ellis for giving us a historically accurate story of Jesus's birth and early life. I've grown so weary of illustrations that portray Jesus as German! Great gift for young readers.

[Free Ekpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights several different stories from the Bible with the main focus being on little brown baby Jesus and his ancestors. I loved the illustrations and Bible verses woven throughout the images. It was cute!

[Alma de Color · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! At long last, a story with representation of a myriad of cultures and diversities. The artwork with the Scriptures woven into the pages is stunning!

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading this simply because the cover is so cute. Tells itty bitty stories of others in the Bible along with Jesus. The art is too cute!!

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely look at the life of Jesus during his toddler years in Egypt and a review of his family tree.

[Chuck Beilstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the Bible quotes are barely legible.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM