Stable in Bethlehem: A Christmas Counting Book

by Joy N. Hulme, Dan Andreasen (Illustrations)

Illustrated with stunning, jewel-toned art, and featuring a festive foil-trimmed jacket, this gracefully written picture book captures the true Christmas spirit in a way children can easily understand. In tender verse that flawlessly incorporates simple counting, Joy Hulme describes the night Jesus was born in a manger, surrounded by animals and with only straw to pillow his head. From the eight shepherds watching their flock to five angels singing, from three wise men bearing gifts to two parents looking with tender love upon one small baby, each image evokes what’s most meaningful about this special day.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Religion, Counting

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting down from twelve (drowsy doves over the stable) to one (small baby), this is a gentle and quiet picture book that looks at the characters of the nativity story, animals (both those noted in the Bible, like sheep, and those that could have been there, like dogs and mice) and people (shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph). The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and it is just such a sweet book to review numbers while also talking about the nativity story

Recommended read-aloud age: Elliot enjoyed it at two years-old. This was a good age to start, though I think even kindergartners would still enjoy it too.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright 1989. My copy is from that date & is a Little Golden Book.
This is a book for the preschool & younger set. It's a counting book, from 12 doves to one small baby. Beautifully illustrated by J. Ellen Dolce.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember ever hearing the song before so I had to look it up on YouTube. It's simple enough, sorta soothing. Feels like a lullaby.

The art is nice. Reading this as a poem works well too.

[Pug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A precious little nativity book, counting down the animals and angels and visitors to the manger.

[Margaret Welwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the many joys of this Christmas season has been sharing this beautiful book with my two-year-old granddaughter, May. There's such a quietness and gentleness about the text and pictures. May particularly likes cooing with the doves, nodding her head with the donkeys, and singing with the angels. A sweet, quiet bedtime story that she enjoys over and over again.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps the author choose to begin counting backward from 12 because of the 12 days of the Christmas season, but it did seem a little odd. The illustrations were ok and overall it seemed the story would be for a three or four year old, but there was nothing that reakky captivated me.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/7/16 Read with Naomi, Julia, and Savannah.

12/8/18 Read with Naomi & Julia - they loved all the counting

[Joy Gerbode]

I really like this little book for Christmas. The grandkids like to actually count the items on each page ... and it's a great Christmas poem.