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The Story of Christmas
“Delicate paper-cut illustrations provide a lovely, solemn backdrop to the King James Bible’s account of the Nativity story” in this delightful book (Publishers Weekly).Deeply reverent and richly detailed, Pamela Dalton’s exquisite scissor-cut illustrations follow The Story of Christmas from the appearance of the Angel to the shepherds who came from the fields, and to the three wise men who followed the star to pay respect for their new king. Working in a Pennsylvania-German folk-art tradition, with lovingly rendered animals and figures, Pamela Dalton has created a book that takes a deserved place among the finest celebrations of Christmas.A New York Times Book Review 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 15, 2022
Beautiful
The special part of the book is it's incredible artwork. It is so fine and we'll composed.
A great one that I recommend.
The special part of the book is it's incredible artwork. It is so fine and we'll composed.
A great one that I recommend.
December 23, 2022
What an emotionally beautiful story.
The words of the King James Bible relating to the Birth of Christ AND Pamela Dalton's beautiful artistry.
Pamela Dalton’s cut-paper artwork has delighted children and attracted a loyal following of collectors for almost twenty-five years. She lives in Harlemville, New York, where her home and studio overlook a biodynamic farm and school community. Pamela illustrated Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Katherine Paterson’s retelling of the classic poem by Saint Francis of Assisi.
This is a new addition to Christmas reading and preparation that I will return to every year.
5 stars
TY Deacon Tom!!
The words of the King James Bible relating to the Birth of Christ AND Pamela Dalton's beautiful artistry.
Pamela Dalton’s cut-paper artwork has delighted children and attracted a loyal following of collectors for almost twenty-five years. She lives in Harlemville, New York, where her home and studio overlook a biodynamic farm and school community. Pamela illustrated Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Katherine Paterson’s retelling of the classic poem by Saint Francis of Assisi.
This is a new addition to Christmas reading and preparation that I will return to every year.
5 stars
TY Deacon Tom!!
December 31, 2018
Since I've exhausted pretty much all the holiday e-picture books at my local library (with the exception of toy and TV tie-ins), I was left with little to review on New Year's Eve but this book that tells the story of Christmas from a very Biblical perspective.
I'm probably not the audience for a book like this, as I'm not a Christian. However, I can appreciate a well-done Nativity story; one of my favourite holiday reads this year was Mary Engelbreit's A Night of Great Joy. The Story of Christmas, however, left me cold... for a few reasons.
The artwork is somewhat impressive, although it isn't really something I, personally, like. I also don't like the stereotypical blond Jesus and the fact that Joseph looks old enough to be Mary's grandfather (he's mostly bald... and what little hair he does have on his head is white). The black backgrounds make the artwork striking, but I'm not sure if it will be something that will appeal to kids.
And that brings me to my main complaint with this book. It appears to be marketed as a children's book, but the old-fashioned language and mature subject matter (we're dealing with the version from the Gospel of Matthew here, so we've got a murderous king trying to kill a baby) don't seem appropriate for kids. (The nastier elements aren't really spelled out, which could lead to further confusion unless one is familiar with the story. Near the end of the book, we see Joseph taking his family into Egypt for their protection because Herod sought to "destroy" the child. So that's probably going to require some explanation, which will have to lead into a discussion about the Massacre of the Innocents.) This particular edition might make a lovely coffee table book for adults, but I would hesitate to give it to children.
This book didn't work for me, but I can see how it could have appeal for others, both for the illustrations and for the story.
I'm probably not the audience for a book like this, as I'm not a Christian. However, I can appreciate a well-done Nativity story; one of my favourite holiday reads this year was Mary Engelbreit's A Night of Great Joy. The Story of Christmas, however, left me cold... for a few reasons.
The artwork is somewhat impressive, although it isn't really something I, personally, like. I also don't like the stereotypical blond Jesus and the fact that Joseph looks old enough to be Mary's grandfather (he's mostly bald... and what little hair he does have on his head is white). The black backgrounds make the artwork striking, but I'm not sure if it will be something that will appeal to kids.
And that brings me to my main complaint with this book. It appears to be marketed as a children's book, but the old-fashioned language and mature subject matter (we're dealing with the version from the Gospel of Matthew here, so we've got a murderous king trying to kill a baby) don't seem appropriate for kids. (The nastier elements aren't really spelled out, which could lead to further confusion unless one is familiar with the story. Near the end of the book, we see Joseph taking his family into Egypt for their protection because Herod sought to "destroy" the child. So that's probably going to require some explanation, which will have to lead into a discussion about the Massacre of the Innocents.) This particular edition might make a lovely coffee table book for adults, but I would hesitate to give it to children.
This book didn't work for me, but I can see how it could have appeal for others, both for the illustrations and for the story.
January 4, 2022
Featured in a grandma reads session.
The Christmas story. . . as it is told in the bible with lovely illustrations. We'd done a lot of Christmas reading over the season, but not many covered any part of the real story. So we did that before we put a wrap on 2021.
As a grandma one deals at a remove with her families who are in a faith transition, but it is a story that has comforted me all my life, so I shared it. As it was in scripture-speak some understood it, and some just listened. . . .and that was the point, after all.
The Christmas story. . . as it is told in the bible with lovely illustrations. We'd done a lot of Christmas reading over the season, but not many covered any part of the real story. So we did that before we put a wrap on 2021.
As a grandma one deals at a remove with her families who are in a faith transition, but it is a story that has comforted me all my life, so I shared it. As it was in scripture-speak some understood it, and some just listened. . . .and that was the point, after all.
September 15, 2016
Lovely, lovely illustrations. The scissor-cut art is unique and beautiful. Love seeing something different to the telling of the Christmas story. The end of the book is very fitting: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit; and the grace of God was upon him."
January 1, 2018
This is one of those books that took me for a surprise. Most books that offer the "story of Christmas" normally adapt the story to make the reading better for younger audiences while also presenting them with illustrations to emphasize the story thus being a gate to later Nativity readings.
In Pamela Dalton's book the story is taken from the Bible thus allowing young readers a chance to get the Nativity right from the source although I couldn't tell which version was used. At the same time rich beautiful cuttings add an emphasis to the culture and beauty of the story.
All in all a great read and one that can be added to any Christmas reading pile.
In Pamela Dalton's book the story is taken from the Bible thus allowing young readers a chance to get the Nativity right from the source although I couldn't tell which version was used. At the same time rich beautiful cuttings add an emphasis to the culture and beauty of the story.
All in all a great read and one that can be added to any Christmas reading pile.
December 11, 2016
Beautiful illustrations. It was a joy to reread the birth of Christ.
December 8, 2024
A brief version of the nativity story. I borrowed a digital copy from the library, so I didn't get to enjoy the art in all its glory. Apparently, all the pictures are cutouts, so I'd love to see what a physical copy looks like.
December 17, 2021
DECEMBER - DAY/MONTH/SEASON
January 7, 2019
Pamela Dalton's cut-paper artwork, the star of this book, is accompanied by text from the King James Bible. The black backgrounds in particular make the stunning art really pop. And the reproduction of the art is very good.
The thing that lets it down in the ebook version, which I read, is the wonky digital formatting - as is too often the case when publishers take a print book and make it available in digital format. Picture books and other illustrated books seem to fare particularly badly when this is not done properly.
I would like to see a print edition of this book or an ebook properly formatted so that the text and pictures appear laid out as they ought to be.
The thing that lets it down in the ebook version, which I read, is the wonky digital formatting - as is too often the case when publishers take a print book and make it available in digital format. Picture books and other illustrated books seem to fare particularly badly when this is not done properly.
I would like to see a print edition of this book or an ebook properly formatted so that the text and pictures appear laid out as they ought to be.
November 27, 2012
I liked that the older version of the King James Bible was used as it went along with Pamela Dalton's gorgeous paper-cut illustrations. The technique called "Scherenschnitte," is according to the inside front dust jacket: "rooted in Pennsylvania-German folk art and steeped in an intimate appreciation of medieval and Renaissance Italian art." It makes it look like a medieval manuscript, very detailed and just gorgeous. It really brings out the beautiful humbleness of the birth of Jesus (I hope that makes sense). Recommended for ages 1-7, 4 stars.
December 17, 2018
Great for 1st grade CCD class during Advent. Includes angels appearing to all, king Herod, the 🌟, and how they had to flee to Egypt.
Beautiful illustrartions. Worked out very well with class while we followed the book along with our nativity set and actions.
Beautiful illustrartions. Worked out very well with class while we followed the book along with our nativity set and actions.
December 1, 2011
The illustrations are beautiful, but for a picture book the language needs to be simpler.
November 24, 2018
This little illustration and story was absolutely adorable. It warmed my heart (:
December 17, 2020
A beautifuly illustrated version of the Christmas story that would make an excellent Christmas gift for young and old.
December 21, 2020
The words for this are taken from the KJV of the Bible. The illustrations are very beautiful. My kids loved it. They wanted to examine every little detail.
Read
December 14, 2021I just read The Story of Christmas by Pamela Dalton. If you’re looking for a picture book that tells the story of Christmas straight from the New Testament, this is beautiful option. I read the ebook that I checked out from the library. It’s a beautiful book. I should get it and borrow some kids to read it to.
December 2, 2017
Pamela Dalton's illustrations are breathtaking. The King James Bible is incredibly poetic and can be hard even for adults to understand, but Dalton's drawings are a visual feast that makes this version easy even for children.
December 28, 2018
The story of Christ's birth from the King James version of the Bible. I love reading these familiar words paired with illustrations. The illustrations are different than I envision for the nativity, yet they are beautiful!
December 2, 2020
The words are from the King James Bible. I really liked the illustrations (except for the fact that Mary & Joseph looked more like Elizabeth and Zachariah). It's a very calming book telling the story of Christ's birth using scripture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
The illustrations are beautifully done, which are colorful paper cut images. The detail is amazing. The story about the Christ child born in a manger is simple and easy to understand and of course the wise men come with the story ending the Mary, Joseph and Jesus hiding in Egypt.
August 25, 2017
This was very nice. Great art work. I forgot how poetic the King James bible is.
November 27, 2017
November 2017 - the illustrations are gorgeous and I like that it uses the familiar King James Bible language. But again, super white figures and very much in the western art tradition.
April 30, 2018
The actual Scriptural text with beautiful illustrations.
July 31, 2018
Art
The artwork is absolutely magnificent. The detail is amazing. My favorite is Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. The purity is divine.
The artwork is absolutely magnificent. The detail is amazing. My favorite is Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. The purity is divine.
December 10, 2019
The Christmas story retold for younger readers. Beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended for family read.
December 4, 2022
I bought this book for my young child to tell her the story of Christmas, didn’t realize the language would be this hard. But still the illustrations are gorgeous, the story is the story.
December 30, 2022
Love the illustrations and the simple text of Luke 2.
December 31, 2022
Beautiful artwork!!!
December 22, 2023
So beautiful. Gorgeous illustrations!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews