Who is Coming to Our House?

by Joseph Slate, Ashley Wolff (Illustrator)

A modern Christmas classic about how the animals prepare a cozy welcome for the baby Jesus, perfect for under the tree or in stockings.

"Who is coming to our house?

Someone, someone," says Mouse.

As Pig makes room, Lamb cleans up, Goose stacks the hay, and Duck lines the crib with eiderdown, Mary and Joseph are on their way by donkey. All the animals are eager to welcome the baby Jesus to their home. A warm, lyrical book your family will cuddle up with for years.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Animals, Holiday, Religion

24 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this one because it's the nativity with a different twist. It's told from the barn animal's points of view. They all work hard to prepare the barn for their special guests. It's surprising what one can learn from a simple Children's book, I think the subtle message here is: "What are WE doing to prepare for the Savior"?

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the animals are making room for Baby Jesus to come to their house. Good to read to 18 months- to 4 yr olds.

[Oceana Reads Co.]

I remember reading this with my mom as a child. Such good memories.

[Anna Wooliver Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this book. The illustrations are woodblock prints. I do not like that it is set in a barn, not that Mary Joseph and Jesus are shockingly Caucasian. This is definitely evangelical Christian nostalgia.

[Stina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #77 for 2017
GenreLand: December - Fantasy
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A book set more than 5,000 miles from Fort Collins
PopSugar (max. 3):
- A book with a cat on the cover
- A book from a nonhuman perspective
- A book with pictures
Better World Books:
- A book under 200 pages
- A book of poetry
My Personal Reading Challenge:
- An illustrated children's book
- A story told from a nonhuman POV
- A book with a cat on the cover

Another holiday story-time selection, this is a different take on the Christmas story -- it's told from the animals' perspective. And there's a pig, which I don't really understand. And I don't think the anticipated guests are ever actually named. But it's talking animals, so I really should just quit overthinking this. The rhyming was a little sing-songy for my taste, but I imagine younger children would like it, and the illustrations are beautiful.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is Coming to Our House? (paperback] by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff follows the animals who get the stable ready for Joseph and Mary, and their blessed event.

Wolff's detailed drawings of single and double page spreads focus on the animals and what they do to get ready for Joweph and Mary. My favorite images are mouse & all animals, goat, sheep telling hens to dust, Geese stacking, duck plucking, hen laying, peacock, and last three illustrations.

Goat butts aside a cart, Pig makes room, Goose stacks the hay, hens dust beams, and Duck lines the crib with eiderdown as they prepare the stable. The simnple text of about seventy words in a large font is easy to read aloud and a choice for beginning readers. This is a good toddler, younger preschooler choice for the holidays and should attract listeners who can identify animals or even add their sounds as they are seen. Recommended for public library collections.

For ages 1 to 3, religious, Christmas, animals, nativity, beginning readers, and fans of Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m using this board book to teach the kids on “hope” Sunday this Advent. My only criticism is that the author does not mention Jesus; instead the animals welcome (a very pregnant) Mary and Joseph.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story about the animals in the stable where Jesus was born, preparing for Mary and Joseph to arrive. Very sweet. Excellent read-aloud. Great way to talk about anticipation and preparation, which is what Advent is all about. I also appreciate the way the animals want to clean every part of the stable (even the spider wants to make new webs!), which symbolizes (for me) preparing our hearts for Christ. Advent is a penitential season.

Yes, I may be reading too much into this story, but if my kids are going to receive hidden messages from books, I’d like to know the messages are sound.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: ""Who is coming to our house?

Someone, someone," says Mouse.

As Pig makes room, Lamb cleans up, Goose stacks the hay, and Duck lines the crib with eiderdown, Mary and Joseph are on their way by donkey. All the animals welcome the baby Jesus to their home."

My Review: I loved this book. It was a cute and different take on the story of Jesus' birth. The animals know and make sure the stable is prepared for Mary and Joseph. The pictures are bold and vivid. A great story for the countdown to Christmas.

[Asho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant variation on the story of the birth of Jesus, focused on the manger animals who are anticipating His arrival. I found the illustrations charming, my one-year-old enjoyed pointing to the animals, and my three-year-old liked this so much that he asked to take it to school one day to share it with his class.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love pulling this book out every Christmas and reading to whomever will listen.

2016 Read with Naomi & Julia
12/21/17 Naomi read to Julia & me.
12/3/18 Read with Naomi & Julia
12/24/19 Read with Julia
11/21/20 Read with Julia
12/12/21 Read with my preschool class
12/11/22 Read with my preschool class
12/8/24 Read with my preschool class
12/24/24 Read with Naomi, Julia, and Skylar

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sweet picture books tells young readers how the farm animals all prepared to welcome their special guests - Mary and Joseph and the night of the first Christmas. Lovely illustrations and simple, rhyming text will help young readers realize just how special the birth of Jesus was, making this a nice read aloud for bedtime or to share with church groups during the holidays.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhymey story of Mary and Joseph coming to the manger. There are a couple pictorial clues as to who it is that's coming even though Mouse says only, "Someone, someone": a village that looks suspiciously like Bethlehem and a man and a woman riding on a donkey. Nicely illustrated by Ashley Wolff.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little book that's great to read any time of year, not just Christmas. The text is simple and the illustrations are wonderful.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations with a lyrical text as we see the animals in the barn preparing for the arrival of guests. Who will it be. . .Mary and Joseph of course.

[Sarah Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sure it's not an accident that it's the rat who doesn't believe the special visitors will ever arrive. Rats can't have the gift of faith.

[Mavis’s Dad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first family of Christianity is headed to the stable and the animals are preparing by getting everything ready. If only the in keeper had been willing to help this impoverished refugee family.

Moral: All of the creatures of the earth understood the significant of the newborn king long before humanity did.

Length: It’s a board book that tells a legit story, but it’s still pretty short.

Favorite Line: ”Someone, someone is coming to our house.”

Overall Impression: I liked this book immensely, even if it was a mouse who played the role of shepherd and was preparing the way for the Lord. Though it’s heartwarming and sweet, I do have questions. Are peacocks native to Bethlehem? What is an eider? Why is the holy family so white? I’m not sure of these answers, but I’ll enjoy this little book in the meantime.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best nativity storybook I have found so far for the very young--say, 1-2 years old. My almost 4 year old can handle a more complicated plot, but still chooses this story for the animals and rhymes. Anticipation builds until the arrival of Mary, Joseph, and finally, Baby Jesus. A sweet introduction full of character. Great as a board book. The only oddities are in a few more stilted phrases that make the rhymes possible: "I will butt aside the rig." "I will line the crib with eider." "I will nose the door ajar."

[Carly Hales · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had great potential to tell the Christmas story for young kids in a really fun way, but the ending was so abrupt! The whole story is the animals preparing for a surprise visitor and then finally it just says Mary and Joseph are here. And there is NO MENTION of baby Jesus's name. It just shows them holding a baby. What? That could have been a lovely ending but the author blew it in my opinion.

[Delaney Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: poetry
Grade range: PreK
I love the way the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus is told from the perspective of the animals in this book. The rhymes felt natural and the illustrations were beautiful. This would be a good book for newer readers to try reading because of the natural feeling of the rhyme which would help with word pronunciation.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this sweet, sweet little board book. Mia and I read it all year round. It always makes me tear up. The sweet gestures of the animals show such reverence for the birth of the Savior.

[Audrey Widjaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Who is coming to our house"
"Someone, someone," says Mouse.
The animals in the stable are preparing for the arrival of baby Jesus.

Hen lay an egg, Peacock spread its tail....

Us? open our heart and make room for him to enter.

[LittleE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it reminds me of the spirit of advent, preparing for the birth of Jesus. My daughter loves to be read this book while playing with her nativity. The points of view of the animals make it a fun and engaging way to keep her interested in the Advent season.

[Erratic Bookish Teapot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our family considers this a classic. Read every year on Christmas Eve since my oldest(19) was just a toddler. The pictures are lovely and very classic looking and the story is cute and makes us smile years later.

[Mary Peble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of how the nativity animals eagerly anticipated the arrival of baby Jesus. Like people, each animal has a different personality and reacts differently. The humble mouse insists that someone special is coming; it is fitting that the "least of these" animals has the greatest faith.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story of the First Christmas written from the barn animals' point of view.

[Shorel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m all about artistic liberty, but...a pig? So, you have to ignore that Mary and Joseph were Jews. Which is a pretty major point to ignore.

[Melissa Lavely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute; Grayson loved all the animals.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing, but nothing special.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The animals in the barn are preapring for a very special visitor. Awesome. Love the reglious overtones. toddler and up