The First Christmas

by Nonny Hogrogian

A beautiful retelling of THE FIRST CHRISTMAS from Two-time Caldecott Medalist Nonny Hogrogian... From Joseph and Mary's trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus in a humble manger, Nonny Hogrogian illustrates THE FIRST CHRISTMAS with true love. In every stroke of paint, we vividly share in excitement of the wiseman, the joy of the shepherds, and the playfulness of the angels singing on high. This Christmas retelling is peppered with actual verses from the Gospels and will make for the perfect family reading on an early Christmas morning.

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Nonny Hogrogian is an Armenian-American writer and illustrator, known best for children's picture books. She has won two annual Caldecott Medals for U.S. children's book illustrations. Since childhood she prefers folk and fairy tales, poetry, fantasy and stories.

Reviews

[Danette]

12/27/18 Read with Julia

[Kathy Piselli]

Hogrogian's gentle oils illustrate this retelling of the first Christmas in greens, blues and browns. The sheep in the manger and the closing panel of shepherds on a twilit hill are superb.

[Addie]

2 year old not super into this one, but it was good

[Janet]

Lovely what appear to be oil paintings illustrating the Christian religious story of the birth of Christ illustrated by Caldecott medalist, Nonny Hogrogian.
Most of the text that appears in italics is from the Gospel of Saint Matthew and Saint John.
Adults will appreciate this picture book.

[Claire]

Colorful oil paint illustrations and text with a refreshingly old-fashioned feel, incorporating direct quotes from the King James Bible.

Tidbit of trivia knowledge: According to the bio on the dustjacket, Nonny Hogrogian is married to David Kherdian, the author of The Road from Home (the incredibly moving, true story of an Armenian girl fleeing the 1915 genocide).