To Whom the Angel Spoke: A Story of the Christmas

by Terry Kay, Eileen Blyth (Illustrator)

A holiday classic about the power and unity of belief in the face of differences.
To Whom the Angel Spoke is the story of three shepherds who are as different as men can be. One night, those men hear a voice, and because they believe the voice’s words about the birth of Jesus, they become alike.
In author Terry Kay’s moving story, the unifying power of simple belief transcends differences, reminding us that, as diverse as we are, there is a celebration that can bring us all together.

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Religion, Childrens

30 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1991

About the author

TERRY KAY, a 2006 inductee into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, is the author of The Book of Marie, recently released by Mercer University Press. Kay has been a sports writer and film/theater reviewer (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), a public relations executive, and a corporate officer. He is the author of nine other published novels, including To Dance with the White Dog, The Valley of Light, Taking Lottie Home, The Kidnapping of Aaron Greene, Shadow Song, The Runaway, Dark Thirty, After Eli, and The Year the Lights Came On, as well as a book of essays (Special K) and a childrens book (To Whom the Angel Spoke)."

Reviews

[Brice Karickhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on the couch with Talia on Christmas night while the whole extended family sat around eating dessert at Grams house. Five star experience. Four star little book.

[Wendy Morlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about the birth of Jesus seen through the eyes of the shepherds. Told with a bit of humor and sweetness. Terry Kay will be sorely missed.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lovely picture book shares the story of the first Christmas from the point of view of the shepherds who were tending their flock near Bethlehem on that holy night. The shepherds were each very different from each other - they had different backgrounds, appearances, and ideas. But they each shared an amazing experience that night. They each saw a star brighter than any star they had ever seen and from the midst of that brightness they all heard a Voice proclaiming the birth of Christ. The painted illustrations are beautiful, but this story is unique in that the reader doesn't see pictures of the baby in the manger or Mary or Joseph. We just see what the shepherds saw that night. This story could start a good discussion about point of view and about author's choices - why did the author choose to focus on the shepherds rather than the traditional characters of the Nativity story?

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the shepherds at Christmas. It features 3 shepherds: Tall/short/medium, fat/thin/medium, white/black/medium. They hear a Voice and then go to Bethlehem.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. Didn’t like this one!

[Vickie McEntire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful retelling from the shepherd's perspective. Perfect for family reading out loud.

[Nd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Three Wisemen infused in a very nice way to show that we are all one while embodying contrast, diversity, and individualism.

[Deborah Kramb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read aloud

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful story. Loved the illustrations by Eileen Blyth.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and cute book about the Christmas story. The 3 main characters are shepherds described as white, bronze, and black; tall, short and in-between; fat, skinny and medium. It is explained that all people are different, they look different, they feel different and they act different most of the time but...

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars I have nothing bad and nothing good to say about this book. IT was fine, it talked about a different perspective of Christmas...but I didn't loved it. Not a must read Christmas book but if everything else is checked our of the library...it would be fine....

[V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure when I first read this, but I come back to this sweet Christmas story again and again to be reminded of the all inclusiveness of the Gospel. Terry's writing is clear, and thought provoking. One of my very favorite Christmas books!