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The First Christmas Ever
Through easy-to-understand text and vibrant and engaging artwork from The Read with Me Bible creator Dennis Jones, readers 4-8 can experience the timeless story of Jesus’ birth and God’s amazing love through simple words and expressive pictures they clearly understand.
A clear retelling of the Christmas story, from the journey to Bethlehem to the shepherds’ joyful praise of the newborn Jesus, this paperback of The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers each holiday season.
This picture book is perfect
family reading during Advent or on Christmas DayStocking stuffers and Christmas gifts for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or any boy or girl on your listClassroom gifts and Sunday school giveaways, thanks to its low price point and high valueAnd if you enjoy The First Christmas Ever, check out The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones as well!
A clear retelling of the Christmas story, from the journey to Bethlehem to the shepherds’ joyful praise of the newborn Jesus, this paperback of The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers each holiday season.
This picture book is perfect
family reading during Advent or on Christmas DayStocking stuffers and Christmas gifts for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or any boy or girl on your listClassroom gifts and Sunday school giveaways, thanks to its low price point and high valueAnd if you enjoy The First Christmas Ever, check out The First Easter Ever by Dennis Jones as well!
- GenresChristmas
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2014
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Jones
165 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 8, 2022
I am not and never have been all that religious and have also not had all that much religion (and with religion I mean Christianity) taught to me either at home or at school. But I do believe in God, and for me, any published piece of writing specifically about Jesus Christ which is being geared towards children (either as a picture book or as something more substantial) needs to be respectfully penned and would if I had my own choice in the matter also make use of as many direct quotes from the Bible as possible (and preferably from the King James version, which definitely tends to be my personal favourite). And sorry, but the presented text for The First Christmas Ever (which might have been both written and also illustrated by Dennis Jones, although I am by no means certain of this), albeit that it does textually present a biblically authentic enough seeming rendition of Jesus Christ's birth, the presented text (and which sounds absolutely nothing like the Christmas story as it is so beautifully and evocatively shown and presented in the Gospel of Luke) feels almost a bit sneeringly denigrating and sometimes with a suppressed and totally uncalled for and inappropriate sense of humour (well, at least that has been my own personal feeling regarding the textual representation of Jesus Christ's birth as it is shown in The First Christmas Ever and it most definitely does rather rub me both emotionally and spiritually the wrong proverbial way, not massively so, not painfully, but enough to definitely be noticeable).
However, the main reason why my rating for The First Christmas Ever is only two stars, this is actually not so very much due to the narrative, this is not really hugely because of the presented printed words. For although I do find that the featured penned account of Jesus Christ's nativity in The First Christmas Ever is definitely a bit too “modern” for me personally and equally kind of feels more than a trifle trivialising at times, the text for The First Christmas Ever does generally still present the tale of Jesus Christ being born like it is for the most part shown in the three synoptic gospels of the New Testament of the Bible (in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and in particular Luke). And well and honestly, it is actually and in fact the artwork, it is Dennis Jones’ illustrations for The First Christmas Ever that I totally visually despise, that I find both majorly aesthetically unpleasant and also visually rather an insult towards not only Jesus Christ but in fact towards everyone who is part of the Christmas story. Because those pictures for The First Christmas Ever, not only is Dennis Jones’ utilised colour scheme horribly gaudy and exaggeratedly bright, but come on, ALL of the human figures, and yes, even Jesus Christ himself as an infant, they appear (to and for my eyes) as deliberately caricature like, and I for one do find the entire concept of Jesus Christ (as well as Mary and Joseph) being drawn, being illustrated by Dennis Jones in a decidedly visually parodistic manner not only ridiculous but also aesthetically inappropriate and totally utterly unsuitable.
However, the main reason why my rating for The First Christmas Ever is only two stars, this is actually not so very much due to the narrative, this is not really hugely because of the presented printed words. For although I do find that the featured penned account of Jesus Christ's nativity in The First Christmas Ever is definitely a bit too “modern” for me personally and equally kind of feels more than a trifle trivialising at times, the text for The First Christmas Ever does generally still present the tale of Jesus Christ being born like it is for the most part shown in the three synoptic gospels of the New Testament of the Bible (in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and in particular Luke). And well and honestly, it is actually and in fact the artwork, it is Dennis Jones’ illustrations for The First Christmas Ever that I totally visually despise, that I find both majorly aesthetically unpleasant and also visually rather an insult towards not only Jesus Christ but in fact towards everyone who is part of the Christmas story. Because those pictures for The First Christmas Ever, not only is Dennis Jones’ utilised colour scheme horribly gaudy and exaggeratedly bright, but come on, ALL of the human figures, and yes, even Jesus Christ himself as an infant, they appear (to and for my eyes) as deliberately caricature like, and I for one do find the entire concept of Jesus Christ (as well as Mary and Joseph) being drawn, being illustrated by Dennis Jones in a decidedly visually parodistic manner not only ridiculous but also aesthetically inappropriate and totally utterly unsuitable.
November 14, 2022
Wonderful story of the day Christ is born. My Grandchildren love it
I read this to my Grandchildren ages, one year to thirteen years old, they all found something that each of them liked. The illustrations where a big hit and the story is told well. Thank you for a nice sharing book.
I read this to my Grandchildren ages, one year to thirteen years old, they all found something that each of them liked. The illustrations where a big hit and the story is told well. Thank you for a nice sharing book.
December 10, 2024
I'm never a big fan of messing with the Bible, so conflating the shepherds (from Luke) and the star (from Matthew) on pp. 18-19 didn't sit well with me; I guess that bothered me more than the expansions of the story (repeated rejections at inns, pp. 6-11). But an ok overview of "the first Christmas ever" with winsome illustrations.
December 16, 2021
This is a beautiful book about the birth of Jesus. I read for my girls bedtime. It is a bit long for a bedtime read but really great words and the illustrations are interesting. The people have very skinny arms compared to their bodies.
September 7, 2015
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers [Harpercollins Publishers] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
_140_245_Book_1354_coverThe First Christmas Ever
by Dennis Jones (Illustrator)
A simple retelling of the Christmas story, from the angel’s visit to Mary to the shepherds’ joyful praise of the new born Baby, this small format paperback, The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers. Using the vibrant and popular artwork of Dennis Jones, families can share this timeless story of God’s love each holiday season.
About the Illustrator
Dennis Jones loves to draw. His artwork can be seen in books, magazines, games, toys and Sunday school curriculum. He’s illustrated several children’s products including the Read with Me Bible and the NIrV Super Heroes Bible. Dennis lives in Indiana with his wife Karen and has two grown sons.
The First Christmas Ever is a children’s book, recommended for ages 4-8 years of age. Even though this book is recommended for ages 4-8, it also can be read to children of much younger years. (My son is just 5-months old and he displayed interest in the story and pictures while I read it to him.) The wording throughout the book is easy-to-understand. The illustrations are full of color and expression. However, I did discover that the size of the book is much smaller than I first thought, providing smaller hands with a better grasp of the book and its pages. It also went beyond the birth of Jesus to give a brief summary of Jesus’ life after being baby, which I did not expect.
The First Christmas Ever gives an accurate account of the Biblical events which occurred concerning the birth of Jesus. The wording is different than the Bible, providing easier reading for younger readers. I enjoyed the part of the story which shows the Wise Men showing up after the birth of Jesus, when Jesus and His family are living in a house, instead of in the stable where Jesus was born. To me that is a more accurate telling of the events than most other portrayals of the Biblical story.
I would highly recommend The First Christmas Ever to all! Especially as a traditional telling of the birth of Jesus at Christmas time and as a reminder throughout the year.
_140_245_Book_1354_coverThe First Christmas Ever
by Dennis Jones (Illustrator)
A simple retelling of the Christmas story, from the angel’s visit to Mary to the shepherds’ joyful praise of the new born Baby, this small format paperback, The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers. Using the vibrant and popular artwork of Dennis Jones, families can share this timeless story of God’s love each holiday season.
About the Illustrator
Dennis Jones loves to draw. His artwork can be seen in books, magazines, games, toys and Sunday school curriculum. He’s illustrated several children’s products including the Read with Me Bible and the NIrV Super Heroes Bible. Dennis lives in Indiana with his wife Karen and has two grown sons.
The First Christmas Ever is a children’s book, recommended for ages 4-8 years of age. Even though this book is recommended for ages 4-8, it also can be read to children of much younger years. (My son is just 5-months old and he displayed interest in the story and pictures while I read it to him.) The wording throughout the book is easy-to-understand. The illustrations are full of color and expression. However, I did discover that the size of the book is much smaller than I first thought, providing smaller hands with a better grasp of the book and its pages. It also went beyond the birth of Jesus to give a brief summary of Jesus’ life after being baby, which I did not expect.
The First Christmas Ever gives an accurate account of the Biblical events which occurred concerning the birth of Jesus. The wording is different than the Bible, providing easier reading for younger readers. I enjoyed the part of the story which shows the Wise Men showing up after the birth of Jesus, when Jesus and His family are living in a house, instead of in the stable where Jesus was born. To me that is a more accurate telling of the events than most other portrayals of the Biblical story.
I would highly recommend The First Christmas Ever to all! Especially as a traditional telling of the birth of Jesus at Christmas time and as a reminder throughout the year.
October 17, 2014
I love Christmas books...I use the excuse that they are for my kiddo, but in all honesty, I love them for me as well. I'm always on the hunt for new books that tell the Christmas story.
The First Christmas Ever was a wonderful telling of the Christmas story. It was also very Biblically accurate. It drives me nuts when I see the wise men visiting baby Jesus at the stable, that isn't what is mentioned in the Bible, so I was thrilled to see this book portray Jesus at the right age.I know it's easier for kids to see all the things happening together, but I enjoyed how the story flowed and showed Jesus as a toddler when they arrived to his home. I also enjoyed how the story didn't end there but it made sure to let the kids know, that this story is only the beginning. Jesus was here for more and His birth and Christmas mean so much more.
The illustrations for this story were great. It had a bold appearance and the characters really popped and it enhanced the the imagery of the story. The colors were fantastic as well. They were bright and eye catching. My littles loved all the animals featured. She also enjoyed spying the little details that were drawn into the background.
This book would be a wonderful addition to any Christmas collection.
Thank you to Zonderkidz, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....
The First Christmas Ever was a wonderful telling of the Christmas story. It was also very Biblically accurate. It drives me nuts when I see the wise men visiting baby Jesus at the stable, that isn't what is mentioned in the Bible, so I was thrilled to see this book portray Jesus at the right age.I know it's easier for kids to see all the things happening together, but I enjoyed how the story flowed and showed Jesus as a toddler when they arrived to his home. I also enjoyed how the story didn't end there but it made sure to let the kids know, that this story is only the beginning. Jesus was here for more and His birth and Christmas mean so much more.
The illustrations for this story were great. It had a bold appearance and the characters really popped and it enhanced the the imagery of the story. The colors were fantastic as well. They were bright and eye catching. My littles loved all the animals featured. She also enjoyed spying the little details that were drawn into the background.
This book would be a wonderful addition to any Christmas collection.
Thank you to Zonderkidz, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....
December 15, 2014
About the Book:
A simple retelling of the Christmas story, from the angel s visit to Mary to the shepherds joyful praise of the new born Baby, this small format paperback, The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers. Using the vibrant and popular artwork of Dennis Jones, families can share this timeless story of God's love each holiday season."
About the Author:
Dennis Jones loves to draw. His artwork can be seen in books, magazines, games, toys and Sunday school curriculum. He’s illustrated several children’s products including the Read with Me Bible and the NIrV Super Heroes Bible. Dennis lives in Indiana with his wife Karen and has two grown sons.
My Review:
A delightful retelling of the birth of Christ written specifically for 4-8 year old. This booklet is a retelling or copied version out of the Read With Me Bible. The story includes the complete retelling of the first Christmas, not just up to the birth in the manger but also the part of the story of Mary and Joseph along with Baby Jesus after they moved to a safer place to avoid King Herod.
Also at the end of the small booklet, you have a few pages showing and telling a brief summary of what happened to Jesus as time went on. Thank God for the two obedient souls of Mary and Joseph, because of their parts in the Christmas story along many others we had a Saviour! If you would like to learn more about this book, you can at this link.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the Z Blog Squad.
A simple retelling of the Christmas story, from the angel s visit to Mary to the shepherds joyful praise of the new born Baby, this small format paperback, The First Christmas Ever is sure to be popular with young readers. Using the vibrant and popular artwork of Dennis Jones, families can share this timeless story of God's love each holiday season."
About the Author:
Dennis Jones loves to draw. His artwork can be seen in books, magazines, games, toys and Sunday school curriculum. He’s illustrated several children’s products including the Read with Me Bible and the NIrV Super Heroes Bible. Dennis lives in Indiana with his wife Karen and has two grown sons.
My Review:
A delightful retelling of the birth of Christ written specifically for 4-8 year old. This booklet is a retelling or copied version out of the Read With Me Bible. The story includes the complete retelling of the first Christmas, not just up to the birth in the manger but also the part of the story of Mary and Joseph along with Baby Jesus after they moved to a safer place to avoid King Herod.
Also at the end of the small booklet, you have a few pages showing and telling a brief summary of what happened to Jesus as time went on. Thank God for the two obedient souls of Mary and Joseph, because of their parts in the Christmas story along many others we had a Saviour! If you would like to learn more about this book, you can at this link.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the Z Blog Squad.
November 24, 2014
The First Christmas Ever is a super cute Christmas book that I've enjoyed with my kids this year. It's a new spin on an old classic.
When I say new spin, the story is still the same. It's just written in a little bit more modern language and talks to kids in the way that they talk. It also embellishes on things that aren't really said in the Bible but we all assume like "All babies are special, but Mary's baby was extra special!"
Since we have a new baby in our house, my kids love all things baby. It puts the story of Jesus's birth in a whole new light for them since they have a much more literal understanding of what it is to be a baby!
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They are cartoon looking but modern. There is a little bit of silliness to some of them like in people's facial expressions and even the animals. It kind of lightens up the story but not in a disrespectful way; just in a way that children will relate to more and understand better.
The First Christmas Ever is a great book for your kiddos this Christmas and would make a super cute stocking stuffer!
When I say new spin, the story is still the same. It's just written in a little bit more modern language and talks to kids in the way that they talk. It also embellishes on things that aren't really said in the Bible but we all assume like "All babies are special, but Mary's baby was extra special!"
Since we have a new baby in our house, my kids love all things baby. It puts the story of Jesus's birth in a whole new light for them since they have a much more literal understanding of what it is to be a baby!
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They are cartoon looking but modern. There is a little bit of silliness to some of them like in people's facial expressions and even the animals. It kind of lightens up the story but not in a disrespectful way; just in a way that children will relate to more and understand better.
The First Christmas Ever is a great book for your kiddos this Christmas and would make a super cute stocking stuffer!
January 15, 2015
The First Christmas took place in a stable with animals, a manger and hay. The reason for the first Christmas was the birth of Jesus. You might ask why this birth was so special. It is because Jesus would change the world forever.
This is a delightful 31-page soft-cover little booklet illustrated by Dennis Jones. It tells the story of Jesus’ birth through age 30, in simple everyday language that can easily be understood by children from ages 4-8. The illustrations are so adorable they will be sure to delight the youngest children and keep them turning the pages.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an easy to understand story of the Birth of Jesus.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this Book by the publisher, ZonderKidz, for an honest review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
This is a delightful 31-page soft-cover little booklet illustrated by Dennis Jones. It tells the story of Jesus’ birth through age 30, in simple everyday language that can easily be understood by children from ages 4-8. The illustrations are so adorable they will be sure to delight the youngest children and keep them turning the pages.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an easy to understand story of the Birth of Jesus.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this Book by the publisher, ZonderKidz, for an honest review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
September 24, 2014
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVER is a sweet book depicting the biblical account of the Nativity. Children (ages 4 – 8) will love hearing the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. It is perfect to read to children as you set up your nativity scene, or tell the Christmas story around the tree, or even as a bedtime story.
I loved rereading this story, and the illustrations were well done. If you are looking for a true to the Bible retelling of the birth of Jesus, then be sure to pick up THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVER.
I loved rereading this story, and the illustrations were well done. If you are looking for a true to the Bible retelling of the birth of Jesus, then be sure to pick up THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVER.
October 16, 2014
Coming close to the Christmas celebration, every Christian home celebrates the birth of Jesus and this book complements the Christmas atmosphere. The First Christmas Ever retells us a story of Jesus’ birth. How Mary and Joseph looked for the place to stay. And the special night when the baby was born. The star was brightly shining.
I love the story…story of God’s love and His gift to us.
The pictures and artwork are amazing. A book can be as a keepsake or a great gift.
* My review is based solemnly on my opinion.
The book was provided by BookLook Bloggers for my honest review.
I love the story…story of God’s love and His gift to us.
The pictures and artwork are amazing. A book can be as a keepsake or a great gift.
* My review is based solemnly on my opinion.
The book was provided by BookLook Bloggers for my honest review.
October 27, 2014
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers.
The book is very small and easy to read before bed during the holidays. It is a paperback and can fit into little hands. It is a timeless classic story with a new set of illustrations. Kids of all ages and even adults are sure to enjoy this very well written book.
The book is very small and easy to read before bed during the holidays. It is a paperback and can fit into little hands. It is a timeless classic story with a new set of illustrations. Kids of all ages and even adults are sure to enjoy this very well written book.
November 19, 2014
Full review here: http://bighairandbooks.blogspot.com/2...
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