The First Christmas

by Jan Pieńkowski

Experience the true spirit of Christmas with this rich celebration of the Christmas story. With words from the "King James Bible", the nativity story is brought gloriously to life with illuminated pages of silhouettes set against glowing colours. The beautiful design and gold highlights throughout make this a true classic and the perfect Christmas gift.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Art, Religion

24 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2006

About the author

Jan Michel Pieńkowski is a Polish-born British illustrator and author of children's books. He is probably best known for his Meg and Mog books with writer Helen Nicoll and for his pop-up books, including Haunted House (winner of the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal), Robot, Dinner Time, Good Night and seventeen others.

Pieńkowski illustrated his first book at the age of eight, as a present for his father. During World War II, Pieńkowski's family moved about Europe, finally settling in Herefordshire, England in 1946. He attended the Cardinal Vaughan School in London, and later read English and Classics at King's College, Cambridge.

After leaving university Pieńkowski founded the Gallery Five greeting cards company. He began illustrating children's books in his spare time, but soon found the work taking over all his time. He began working with children's author Joan Aiken in 1968; he later won the first of two Kate Greenaway Medals in 1972 for his illustrations for Aiken's The Kingdom Under the Sea.

Pieńkowski has had a life-long interest in stage design. He was commissioned to provide designs for Theatre de Complicite, Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Ballet, and Sleeping Beauty at Disneyland Paris.

In 2005 Pienkowski contracted a civil partnership with David Walser, with whom he has been in a relationship for over forty years.

Pienkowski suffers from bipolar disorder.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: we're a family of atheists. But this book... wow! The illustrations are breathtaking. With the text taken directly from the King James bible, any criticism of the text by other reviewers is misdirected (take it up with the church!). This is just a downright stunning book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text from the King James Bible telling the story of the first Christmas, coupled with wonderful pictures? Yes, please! This is a gorgeous book! The title and embellishments on the cover are in metallic silver, pressed into the blue cloth (there's no dust jacket) and the pictures are wonderful, like watching a shadow puppet play of the nativity. I like how different the pictures are: instead of Mary always being with her head bowed, a veil draped over her, she is depicted as hanging up the laundry, braids flying, when Gabriel visits her. The pictures are at once homely and ethereal, and it helped my 6yo connect with the story in a way she hasn't before.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

With text from the King James version of the Bible, this picture book tells the nativity story with stateliness and words that will be familiar to many. The great joy of the book is the silhouette illustrations by Pienkowski who has created images that glow on the page. She combines her black silhouettes with colors that shift and seem to be lit from behind. Her detailed cut paper art is awe-inspiring and adds just the right touch of wonder to the story of the birth of Jesus. Recommended for all ages.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful edition of the Christmas story. The King James version is the text, and the illustrations are breathtaking. The silhouettes against a colored background are in a style that made me expect to see the Bremen Town Musicians show up. Although they are not done in the right time period or location for the story, they have such an effervescent quality to them that it adds to the timeless meaning of the Christmas story. This is definitely worth adding to your Christmas library.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been around for years. It was recently updated to this cover from a older cover of red but the story and the pictures remained the same. It tells the great story of the first christmas story with very interesting and creative illustrations. Jan Pienkowski is amazing and through his other books like the nutcracker and Meg and Mog you can see this beautiful work.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're not religious. And Christmas was NOT the actual historical day for Jesus's birth, the Catholic Church, in an effort to (forcibly) convert all the "pagans," combined the two so they'd fall in line. But I digress.

My Mom read this to us every Christmas Eve since I was a kid, and I'm a huge fan of the drawings. So, with a little preface to the Little One, (I.e., "this is just a story") we read this too. He likes the pictures. Five stars for incredible illustrations.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are pretty, although my husband described the picture of Gabriel appearing to Mary as more like Peter Pan & Wendy (and he's not wrong).

Wish the story stopped before the slaughter of the innocents.

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is worth the entire book, although the story woven is warm and meaningful. The art appears as cut-outs in silhouette. One of the most beautiful Christmas books I have owned and come across. Great to read to kids or for YA, and especially for you.

[Emma Shore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic pictures, shame about the story

[Marcia Van Camp]

The Christmas story in Luke with illustrations...they look like paper cut outs

[Lydiathekicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book won it a permanent spot in our Christmas basket. You still want to look at them long after the text on the page has been read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are so unusual and cool for a religious book. All the people are in sillhouette--which I like because it allows the child to use his or her imagination. In the picture where the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, she is hanging up her washing. My son was taken aback and said that is not how it is supposed to be--she is supposed to have her hands folded and praying! So I guess this book is not for traditionalists, lol.

The words are taken from the Bible, but we spent a lot of time discussing the illustrations because yes, the text can be hard to understand.

[Jtimko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uses the words of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew to present the story of the birth of Jesus.
Beautiful paper cut silhouettes relate the story of the Nativity according to the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. They appear to be back-lit which adds to the dramatic effect of the illustrations. Modern day scenes are used to tell the story. Illuminated letters begin the verse on each page. This is a re-issue of a book that was originally published in 1984. If you need Nativity stories, purchase this one. Otherwise, skip it.

[June Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is the King James Version of the birth of Christ directly from the Bible. The language in this passage is beautiful, in my opinion. The artwork is unique and stunning. This book is probably best suited for older children, ages six to ten or older, because of the formal language patterns and sophisticated artwork.

I borrowed a copy of this book from the Children's section of our local public library.

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[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations from Pienkowski to bring the story of the birth of Jesus to life (text from the King James Bible- and as such this book probably represents the most direct bible reading I've ever done). The illustrations are intriguing- almost Grecian at times, almost subversive, but the use of silhouette is fantastic.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice text storybook about Mary Joseph and Baby Jesus and the History of his birth and the environment where they were. BUT the illustrations although nice are not accurate to the time frame of the story.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The silhouette illustrations are beautiful, and he tells the story entirely with verses from the King James Bible.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but Flannery didn't, and considering that it's a kid's book, that's a bit of a fail. I think it was the KJV reading of the story that lost her.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous perfection.

[Cherise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bible story illustrated. The wording will not be great for smaller children in my opinion.

[Ashlee Draper Galyean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such beautiful illustrations.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas story with breath taking illustrations. I loved it!

[Michelle Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book about the first Christmas. Stunning illustration and the text is straight from the Bible.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King James Bible story of the Annunciation, the Nativity and the visit if the Magi, illustrated with gorgeous art.

[Poppy Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this to Sophia. The Biblical Christmas story is told in a more traditional language, which makes for a nice change, and the accompanying pictures are absolutely beautiful.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustration is why I took this book out to read. Nothing can compare to his artistry!