The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible
Award-winning illustrator Gennady Spirin (The Sea King's DaughtersandThe Crane Wife) brings his glorious paintbrush to the Passion play. When you want to introduce children to the actual biblical words that recount Christ's birth, this is the book to reach for.Spirin's paintingsare  reminiscent of the Renaissance masters, with a sundry of wine reds, creamy  whites, celestial blues, and sun-burnt browns all gilded in Italian gold. When Gabriel visits Mary he descends from heaven in a mist of wispy clouds. A gold halo frames his sincere face, and in his hand he carries an offering of a white lily. When Gabriel explains the enormous task that is being asked of  Mary, she finally agrees, saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Spirin then closes in on Mary's young  face--her  downcast eyes and lightly pursed lips holding oceans of fear and faith. And when heaven celebrates the arrival of Jesus, the page looks as though it's  been plucked from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. These are the kind of  illustrations that linger with children like guardian angels--forever  imprinting beautiful images upon the story of Christ's birth. (Click to see asample spread. Illustrations ©1998 by Gennady Spirin, fromThe Christmas Story. Reprinted by permission of Henry Holt and Co.) (All ages)--Gail Hudson