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The Little Drummer Girl: An Unexpected Christmas Story
Isabella loves to dance and sing, so when she sees auditions posted for the Christmas pageant at church, she dreams of landing the perfect part--the Christmas angel with a sparkling halo, flowing white robe, and her very own wings.
But things don't go quite as planned. She does get a part. The little drummer . . . girl? Drummers don't wear sparkling halos, flowing white robes, or wings! Will this be the most disappointing Christmas ever?
Filled with witty rhymes and whimsical illustrations, The Little Drummer Girl helps children ages 3 to 5 understand how an awful day can turn into the greatest day of all. This unique telling of the Christmas story from the perspective of a little girl delivers an entertaining message of hope, humor, and the power of God's love, as shown through his gift of Jesus--not just at Christmas but every day.
But things don't go quite as planned. She does get a part. The little drummer . . . girl? Drummers don't wear sparkling halos, flowing white robes, or wings! Will this be the most disappointing Christmas ever?
Filled with witty rhymes and whimsical illustrations, The Little Drummer Girl helps children ages 3 to 5 understand how an awful day can turn into the greatest day of all. This unique telling of the Christmas story from the perspective of a little girl delivers an entertaining message of hope, humor, and the power of God's love, as shown through his gift of Jesus--not just at Christmas but every day.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published November 4, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2986 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Walsh
249 books588 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.
Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.
Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.
Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects
Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.
Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.
Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.
Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 4, 2025
In a Nutshell: A Christmas picture book about a little girl who dreams of one thing and gets something else. A cute story with a nice Christmas message and lovely illustrations. But the rhymes were a bit off. I might have liked this better if it were written in simple prose. Could work better with those who aren’t particular about poetic meter while reading aloud to their kids.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
A few years ago, our Children’s Choir team was putting up a choral nativity performance in our parish. One big hurdle during casting was that there was no “eligible little man” for the drummer boy; all our participating boys were either too old or too young (or too incompetent 🤐) for the role. So we changed the narrative and turned the character into a girl. The minute I saw this title listed on NetGalley, I recollected that glorious day, when our little drummer girl drummed her way into the congregation’s heart.
Unfortunately, the protagonist of this story wasn’t a fan of playing a drummer girl. It’s not the same as being an angel with a sparkling white gown, beautiful wings, and a golden halo, right? But her dad’s loving wisdom and his pre-Christmas gift help Isabella realise that God has a plan for everyone, even if it doesn’t match the plan we have for ourselves.
I liked Isabella as the protagonist. Her excitement and her dismay comes across strongly on the page. I totally love her spunk! It is so nice to see a female lead in a Christmas story, and also to see her father be the guiding voice instead of the usual depiction of mothers playing this role.
The storyline is quite good, and if read by parent/guardian and child together, it will offer plenty of moments for laughter as well as reflection. It highlights togetherness, perseverance, handling of disappointment, belief in the Creator’s will, and the sanctity of Christmas. I love that this Christmas book focusses more on the birth of the Saviour than on material considerations such as decorations and parties and gifts.
That said, I wish there had been a greater focus on the ‘drummer girl’ part. A good chunk of the story is spent in offering other background details that aren’t necessary. The main drummer girl scene was barely a page long. There was nothing about rehearsals, or about how Isabella went from “drum-noise-maker” to the perfect drummer girl.
The funniest scenes are the ones where Isabella is practising her ‘rum pum pum’ on her new drum. ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ is one of my favourite carols (the BoneyM version being my preferred one), but even I am not sure if baby Jesus was startled by the sudden banging next to his manger-cradle on that serene night. 😅 Seeing Isabella bang her drum with gusto was hilarious to watch.
The illustrations are adorable, as can be seen from the cover art itself. The full-colour graphics have a crayon-kind of effect, and appear bright and Christmassy, which works excellently for the story. I especially love the way little Isabella was sketched with her wild red curls and wide smile. Her pup Maggie is a cute addition.
All this makes the book sound like a great option. But the one place where it really lost my stars was in the writing. As it is, I am not a big fan of rhythmic prose in stories, even if rhymes are helpful to kids. Few picture books these days actually retain accuracy of meter so the text is rarely smooth while reading aloud. This book has a clear rhyme pattern (ABCB), but the rhymes are often forced in just to meet the pattern and the meter gets sacrificed. When there are four lines in a verse, the number of syllables in the alternate pairs needs to match so that kids understand the exact beat of the rhyme. Having one long and one short sentence in the pair just doesn’t work. Moreover, adding random lines to a verse just to complete the rhyme doesn’t add value to the reading experience. (At least for me. I am sure there are many readers who don’t even bother about syllables and can read such text expertly. I unfortunately cannot.) I am sure I would have enjoyed this story far better if it were in prose (or in proper metered couplets).
Overall, this picture book has a lovely story with an adorable protagonist, sweet illustrations, and nice Christian values. But the writing style with the lack of meter and forced rhymes didn’t work for me at all. This won't be a hurdle to every reader, so you can take a call according to your comfort level with random rhyming. The book is aimed at kids aged 3-8 years.
3 stars.
My thanks to Baker Books for providing the DRC of “The Little Drummer Girl” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Isabella has always dreamed of playing an angel in the annual Nativity play, so when she sees the call for auditions, she is quite excited and rehearses all her lines well. But when she gets selected to play the drummer girl – a role with no lines, she is heartbroken. Why is this Christmas so disappointing? Is there any way it will improve?
The story comes to us in Isabella’s first-person POV.
A few years ago, our Children’s Choir team was putting up a choral nativity performance in our parish. One big hurdle during casting was that there was no “eligible little man” for the drummer boy; all our participating boys were either too old or too young (or too incompetent 🤐) for the role. So we changed the narrative and turned the character into a girl. The minute I saw this title listed on NetGalley, I recollected that glorious day, when our little drummer girl drummed her way into the congregation’s heart.
Unfortunately, the protagonist of this story wasn’t a fan of playing a drummer girl. It’s not the same as being an angel with a sparkling white gown, beautiful wings, and a golden halo, right? But her dad’s loving wisdom and his pre-Christmas gift help Isabella realise that God has a plan for everyone, even if it doesn’t match the plan we have for ourselves.
I liked Isabella as the protagonist. Her excitement and her dismay comes across strongly on the page. I totally love her spunk! It is so nice to see a female lead in a Christmas story, and also to see her father be the guiding voice instead of the usual depiction of mothers playing this role.
The storyline is quite good, and if read by parent/guardian and child together, it will offer plenty of moments for laughter as well as reflection. It highlights togetherness, perseverance, handling of disappointment, belief in the Creator’s will, and the sanctity of Christmas. I love that this Christmas book focusses more on the birth of the Saviour than on material considerations such as decorations and parties and gifts.
That said, I wish there had been a greater focus on the ‘drummer girl’ part. A good chunk of the story is spent in offering other background details that aren’t necessary. The main drummer girl scene was barely a page long. There was nothing about rehearsals, or about how Isabella went from “drum-noise-maker” to the perfect drummer girl.
The funniest scenes are the ones where Isabella is practising her ‘rum pum pum’ on her new drum. ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ is one of my favourite carols (the BoneyM version being my preferred one), but even I am not sure if baby Jesus was startled by the sudden banging next to his manger-cradle on that serene night. 😅 Seeing Isabella bang her drum with gusto was hilarious to watch.
The illustrations are adorable, as can be seen from the cover art itself. The full-colour graphics have a crayon-kind of effect, and appear bright and Christmassy, which works excellently for the story. I especially love the way little Isabella was sketched with her wild red curls and wide smile. Her pup Maggie is a cute addition.
All this makes the book sound like a great option. But the one place where it really lost my stars was in the writing. As it is, I am not a big fan of rhythmic prose in stories, even if rhymes are helpful to kids. Few picture books these days actually retain accuracy of meter so the text is rarely smooth while reading aloud. This book has a clear rhyme pattern (ABCB), but the rhymes are often forced in just to meet the pattern and the meter gets sacrificed. When there are four lines in a verse, the number of syllables in the alternate pairs needs to match so that kids understand the exact beat of the rhyme. Having one long and one short sentence in the pair just doesn’t work. Moreover, adding random lines to a verse just to complete the rhyme doesn’t add value to the reading experience. (At least for me. I am sure there are many readers who don’t even bother about syllables and can read such text expertly. I unfortunately cannot.) I am sure I would have enjoyed this story far better if it were in prose (or in proper metered couplets).
Overall, this picture book has a lovely story with an adorable protagonist, sweet illustrations, and nice Christian values. But the writing style with the lack of meter and forced rhymes didn’t work for me at all. This won't be a hurdle to every reader, so you can take a call according to your comfort level with random rhyming. The book is aimed at kids aged 3-8 years.
3 stars.
My thanks to Baker Books for providing the DRC of “The Little Drummer Girl” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
November 25, 2025
4.5 stars
Confession: “The Little Drummer Boy” is one of my least favorite Christmas carols. But how could I resist the adorable cover of The Little Drummer Girl by Sheila Walsh? Well, obviously I couldn’t, and I’m delighted to report that the inside is just as endearing. Isabella’s eventually enthusiastic rum-pa-pum-pums kept me giggling, and I don’t think I’ll ever hear “The Little Drummer Boy” again without thinking of this cutie-cute little drummer girl (instead of how much I dislike that song lol).
Isabella wants so badly to be an angel in the church nativity play – because she would have all the best lines about Jesus’ birth and His love for us – and she’s sure this year will be her year. My absolute favorite sentence in the book is Isabella’s prayer the night before auditions – “God, please help me get my most favorite part, And help the halo fit on my hair!” Hopeful. Faith-filled. And practical. A girl after my own heart LOL. Alas, she doesn’t get the part she wanted and is saddled with the role of drummer girl instead. In Isabella’s disgruntled words, “Who’s heard of her?” No lines. No halo. No wings. Just a drum. Needless to say, she is very disappointed, but as we follow her through the rest of the book we watch her attitude change when she comes to see Jesus as King. Goodness, don’t we adults periodically – or frequently lol – need that kind of attitude adjustment as well? We may not start loudly practicing ‘rum-pa-pum-pums’ in response (and those around us are ever so grateful, judging by the hilarious reactions from Isabella’s family), but we should nonetheless be led to worship Jesus with our whole heart once we begin to grasp His Kingship. And I love that Sheila Walsh reminds readers of all ages about this Truth, in a sweet picture book that’s filled with humor and heart.
Marcin Piwowarski’s illustrations in The Little Drummer Girl are just precious. So adorable and endearing. The pictures exude warmth and personality, with vibrant tones and witty details that make it truly a pleasure to view each page. Not the least of which is Isabella herself. You can instantly deduce pretty much all you need to know about her personality from the way she’s drawn, even if you didn’t have the text to support your impressions, and I think Piwowarski perfectly captured this larger-than-life pixie. I’m pretty sure I had a permanent grin on my face while looking at these illustrations, and I loved the way the text and the illustrations go together to leave us all charmed by Isabella. Sheila Walsh’s rhyming narration keeps us moving through the story at a steady pace and alternating between giggles and ‘awws’. Especially with great lines like the ones I quoted earlier, as well as “I might not be wearing a halo or wings, But I’d sure keep the audience awake!” and “If you think you have nothing to give to a King, The gift that he wants is just you!”
Bottom Line: I opened The Little Drummer Girl by Sheila Walsh fully prepared to side-eye every “rum-pa-pum-pum,” and instead found myself completely charmed from page one. Isabella’s big personality and even bigger heart absolutely steal the show while Sheila Walsh delivers a sweet, giggle-worthy story that sneaks in a gentle lesson about worship and surrender – the kind we grown-ups need just as much as the littles do. And those illustrations? Oh my goodness, Marcin Piwowarski captures Isabella’s endearing, larger-than-life personality so perfectly that every page feels like a warm hug wrapped in sparkle and a little sass. This is one of those picture books that delights kids, entertains the adults reading it to them, and leaves everyone reflecting on the King born at Christmas.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Confession: “The Little Drummer Boy” is one of my least favorite Christmas carols. But how could I resist the adorable cover of The Little Drummer Girl by Sheila Walsh? Well, obviously I couldn’t, and I’m delighted to report that the inside is just as endearing. Isabella’s eventually enthusiastic rum-pa-pum-pums kept me giggling, and I don’t think I’ll ever hear “The Little Drummer Boy” again without thinking of this cutie-cute little drummer girl (instead of how much I dislike that song lol).
Isabella wants so badly to be an angel in the church nativity play – because she would have all the best lines about Jesus’ birth and His love for us – and she’s sure this year will be her year. My absolute favorite sentence in the book is Isabella’s prayer the night before auditions – “God, please help me get my most favorite part, And help the halo fit on my hair!” Hopeful. Faith-filled. And practical. A girl after my own heart LOL. Alas, she doesn’t get the part she wanted and is saddled with the role of drummer girl instead. In Isabella’s disgruntled words, “Who’s heard of her?” No lines. No halo. No wings. Just a drum. Needless to say, she is very disappointed, but as we follow her through the rest of the book we watch her attitude change when she comes to see Jesus as King. Goodness, don’t we adults periodically – or frequently lol – need that kind of attitude adjustment as well? We may not start loudly practicing ‘rum-pa-pum-pums’ in response (and those around us are ever so grateful, judging by the hilarious reactions from Isabella’s family), but we should nonetheless be led to worship Jesus with our whole heart once we begin to grasp His Kingship. And I love that Sheila Walsh reminds readers of all ages about this Truth, in a sweet picture book that’s filled with humor and heart.
Marcin Piwowarski’s illustrations in The Little Drummer Girl are just precious. So adorable and endearing. The pictures exude warmth and personality, with vibrant tones and witty details that make it truly a pleasure to view each page. Not the least of which is Isabella herself. You can instantly deduce pretty much all you need to know about her personality from the way she’s drawn, even if you didn’t have the text to support your impressions, and I think Piwowarski perfectly captured this larger-than-life pixie. I’m pretty sure I had a permanent grin on my face while looking at these illustrations, and I loved the way the text and the illustrations go together to leave us all charmed by Isabella. Sheila Walsh’s rhyming narration keeps us moving through the story at a steady pace and alternating between giggles and ‘awws’. Especially with great lines like the ones I quoted earlier, as well as “I might not be wearing a halo or wings, But I’d sure keep the audience awake!” and “If you think you have nothing to give to a King, The gift that he wants is just you!”
Bottom Line: I opened The Little Drummer Girl by Sheila Walsh fully prepared to side-eye every “rum-pa-pum-pum,” and instead found myself completely charmed from page one. Isabella’s big personality and even bigger heart absolutely steal the show while Sheila Walsh delivers a sweet, giggle-worthy story that sneaks in a gentle lesson about worship and surrender – the kind we grown-ups need just as much as the littles do. And those illustrations? Oh my goodness, Marcin Piwowarski captures Isabella’s endearing, larger-than-life personality so perfectly that every page feels like a warm hug wrapped in sparkle and a little sass. This is one of those picture books that delights kids, entertains the adults reading it to them, and leaves everyone reflecting on the King born at Christmas.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
November 14, 2025
Raise your hand if you were EVER cast as ‘Sheep #2’ instead of the angel. ✋😂
This book? It’s for us.
Isabella wants to be 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Christmas Angel. Instead, she gets drumsticks, a bright red uniform, and absolutely zero wings. Cue the five-year-old meltdown.
What follows is a funny, heartwarming retelling of the Christmas story that shows kids (and honestly, us grown-ups too) that their gifts matter—even when they aren’t what they expected.
WHAT I LOVED
🎨 Whimsical, vibrant illustrations that absolutely 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘵 off the page
🥁 A girl drummer lead—fresh, fun, and empowering
😂 Witty rhyming lines that made 𝘮𝘦 laugh out loud
🌟 A charming Nativity retelling through a child’s hopeful eyes
❤️ A message of God’s love that’s warm, gentle, and joyful
🎬 The Christmas pageant scenes—instant holiday magic
👧 Isabella’s personality—spunky, dramatic, lovable
📖 Read-aloud perfection for bedtime or church
🎄 Guaranteed holiday tradition-maker
If you’re looking for a Christmas picture book that delivers heart, humor, and a whole lot of holy-night sparkle, this one needs to be wrapped under your tree. Perfect for ages 3-5.✨
This book? It’s for us.
Isabella wants to be 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Christmas Angel. Instead, she gets drumsticks, a bright red uniform, and absolutely zero wings. Cue the five-year-old meltdown.
What follows is a funny, heartwarming retelling of the Christmas story that shows kids (and honestly, us grown-ups too) that their gifts matter—even when they aren’t what they expected.
WHAT I LOVED
🎨 Whimsical, vibrant illustrations that absolutely 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘵 off the page
🥁 A girl drummer lead—fresh, fun, and empowering
😂 Witty rhyming lines that made 𝘮𝘦 laugh out loud
🌟 A charming Nativity retelling through a child’s hopeful eyes
❤️ A message of God’s love that’s warm, gentle, and joyful
🎬 The Christmas pageant scenes—instant holiday magic
👧 Isabella’s personality—spunky, dramatic, lovable
📖 Read-aloud perfection for bedtime or church
🎄 Guaranteed holiday tradition-maker
If you’re looking for a Christmas picture book that delivers heart, humor, and a whole lot of holy-night sparkle, this one needs to be wrapped under your tree. Perfect for ages 3-5.✨
November 4, 2025
This is a sweet Christmas story with a theme of hope and adapting your dreams to what God has planned instead of what you had planned. When Isabella tries out for the Christmas play, she only practices for one part. She wants to be an angel, so she puts her heart and soul into memorizing what she has to do for that part. But when the roles are announced, Isabella is not an angel but a drummer girl. This was not the role she planned for, the one she wanted with all of her heart. The story teaches us all a lesson about how to see the good in things when our plans have to change. It also teaches us about the true meaning of Christmas and even has family support and love in the tale. Good story for children ages 3-5, but I think the older children will enjoy reading it to their siblings and can also learn from the story’s timeless lessons. This wonderful story will make a great gift for the precious child in your life. I read the ARC to my grandchildren and they really got into the story and enjoyed discussing it afterwards and what they could learn from it. Valuable lessons in a well-crafted and beautifully illustrated story!
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 6, 2025
It’s Christmas pageant time and Isabella, who loves to sing and dance, hopes to get a part in the play as a Christmas angel. She dreams of wearing a flowing white robe, feathery wings and a sparkling halo.
As life does, things don't go quite as planned. Isabella is assigned the part of The Little Drummer GIRL! Girl, who ever heard of that? Besides, drummers don't get to wear halos, white robes, or wings! She’d have just a drum and sheep. Yes Isabella is certainly disappointed. She had even prayed she’d get the angel part so she could proudly proclaim the birth of Jesus. Daddy explains to his little girl that this baby named Jesus is a King and she has been chosen to play for Him by His stable bed. Her mindset changes especially when she gets a early Christmas present to unwrap.
While this is the sweetest story of precious little girl, the vividly beautiful illustrations are the winner for me. it’s classic Christmas Pageant… children in fluffy sheep costumes wearing sneakers, shepherds in bathrobes drinking sipping from a mug in play practice, little boy in a gray donkey suit and of course the angels with halos perched on their heads aling with the ever present serious matronly play director who has led the play for the last 25 years most likely.
Children will love searching for the dog and cat throughout the book. I laughed upon seeing the cat on page eleven in rapt attention sitting in the audience the night of the performance.
The Little Drummer Girl is aimed at children ages 3 to 5 and perfectly demonstrates how an awful day can turn into the greatest day of all. This book isa Perfect read aloud with messages of hope, humor, and the power of God's love, at Christmas and every day.
As life does, things don't go quite as planned. Isabella is assigned the part of The Little Drummer GIRL! Girl, who ever heard of that? Besides, drummers don't get to wear halos, white robes, or wings! She’d have just a drum and sheep. Yes Isabella is certainly disappointed. She had even prayed she’d get the angel part so she could proudly proclaim the birth of Jesus. Daddy explains to his little girl that this baby named Jesus is a King and she has been chosen to play for Him by His stable bed. Her mindset changes especially when she gets a early Christmas present to unwrap.
While this is the sweetest story of precious little girl, the vividly beautiful illustrations are the winner for me. it’s classic Christmas Pageant… children in fluffy sheep costumes wearing sneakers, shepherds in bathrobes drinking sipping from a mug in play practice, little boy in a gray donkey suit and of course the angels with halos perched on their heads aling with the ever present serious matronly play director who has led the play for the last 25 years most likely.
Children will love searching for the dog and cat throughout the book. I laughed upon seeing the cat on page eleven in rapt attention sitting in the audience the night of the performance.
The Little Drummer Girl is aimed at children ages 3 to 5 and perfectly demonstrates how an awful day can turn into the greatest day of all. This book isa Perfect read aloud with messages of hope, humor, and the power of God's love, at Christmas and every day.
August 21, 2025
I'm always on the lookout for Christmas books that focus on the meaning of Christmas to share with my kids. I was excited to read this ' unexpected' Christmas story. The beautifully-illustrated children's book follows a little girl who wants to play the angel in her church's pageant. Instead, she gets cast as the 'drummer girl'. The true meaning of Christmas and a focus on Christ's birth is sprinkled throughout the book. I wish there was a little bit more. From the title, I thought it would go into a little more about being a 'drummer girl' and how that's special and Christ-centered, but that part was a little short to me. This book seems like an interesting story for kids with several sweet moments to focus on Christ and the reason for the season. I do like that the book brings up childhood disappointment over not getting the role you want in a play. Very relatable! So it's nice to see the main character work through that. As a mom of little girls, I also like to see this young female main character learn a lesson and celebrate the holiday in a nice way.
Rating: 4 stars
Content warnings: None
Age range: It says 3-5 years old, but I think even my 7 year old would enjoy it. I would maybe even say ages 4-8.
Recommend: If you want a Christmas book that mentions the reason for the season and pulls kids in with an interesting plot, yes!
NetGalley: I read this book as an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4 stars
Content warnings: None
Age range: It says 3-5 years old, but I think even my 7 year old would enjoy it. I would maybe even say ages 4-8.
Recommend: If you want a Christmas book that mentions the reason for the season and pulls kids in with an interesting plot, yes!
NetGalley: I read this book as an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 10, 2025
Isabella very much wants to be in the Christmas play at her church in Tennessee. She prayed hard to play the Announcing Angel, but was given the part of the little drummer girl instead. Daddy gave her a present even before Christmas and it turned out to be something VERY special. And so is this book!
The illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski are complex, imaginative, and FUN in bright colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Avail Nov 4, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on PDF from Baker Books via NetGalley. *****review #NetGalley #bookbub #goodreads #storygraph @librarythingofficial
#TheLittleDrummerGirl #SheilaWalsh and illustrated by @Marcin Piwowarski @readbakerbooks #picturebookart #kidlit #storytelling #Christmas #illustration #childrensbooks #nativityplay #BN #BAM @waterstones #thriftbooks #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #indiebookstoresca @childrensbookcouncil
The illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski are complex, imaginative, and FUN in bright colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Avail Nov 4, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on PDF from Baker Books via NetGalley. *****review #NetGalley #bookbub #goodreads #storygraph @librarythingofficial
#TheLittleDrummerGirl #SheilaWalsh and illustrated by @Marcin Piwowarski @readbakerbooks #picturebookart #kidlit #storytelling #Christmas #illustration #childrensbooks #nativityplay #BN #BAM @waterstones #thriftbooks #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #indiebookstoresca @childrensbookcouncil
January 10, 2026
This lively rhyming narrative is a little awkward in the way it gets to its ultimate message, but still pretty decent for all that. It's about a girl who wants a key, angelic part in her town's nativity, but gets a most different job instead. Just as she's performing she seems to learn that any part, however small, in honouring the real reason for Christmas, is fine by her – but we do doubt the ease in which she works that out. And we have sympathy for the generous parents who buy what is needed for her role. Still, before then the ABCB verses are fine to read aloud, the art is definitely accomplished and enjoyable, and this presents someone intent on the prime part in the play very recognisably. Definitely not a choice for the secular household, this is still four stars for the rest.
August 27, 2025
One of the main points of this book I loved was that it's about a little drummer GIRL because usually every time you hear the story, it's about the little drummer BOY. (Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just think the change is nice). Of course, the most important aspect of this book is that it's about Jesus' birth. The story is adorable, and the illustrations are colorful and very eye-catching. I can see this being a favorite Christmas book families will pass down from generation to generation. I know my grandchildren would love it. Recommended.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own).
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own).
October 14, 2025
This delightful children's book beautifully captures the spirit of Christmas through the story of a little girl who dreams of playing the angel in her church's pageant but ends up as the 'drummer girl.' It gently weaves in the true meaning of Christmas and highlights the significance of Christ's birth. It will be perfect for children ages 4-8. This lovely Christmas story both celebrates the reason for the season and captures children's hearts.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
December 3, 2025
This is a sweet story about being the best version of yourself, even if you can't always have things your way. It's definitely a book that would be perfect for Sunday school or catechism or in a classroom setting to discuss the Nativity story. Some of the rhymes didn't land right for me, but I think they'd work just fine with (most) children. The illustrations were colorful and engaging - perfect for storytime!
This book was received through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway for an unbiased review.
This book was received through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway for an unbiased review.
December 14, 2025
I liked the concept the the rhythmic text wasn't always easy to read. This young girl is disappointed to not be chosen as the angel in the annual Christmas play. After talking with her dad, she decides to go all in as the Drummer Girl. Readers see her gratefully receive her new drum and faithfully practice - with humorous illustrations. When it was time for her part, she played beautifully and remembered the truly important part of the Christmas story.
December 4, 2025
This is a holiday story that involves a little girl yearning to be in the school holiday play as an angel, but instead is given the part of a "drummer" based on the classic Christmas song. Despite being disappointed at first, she makes the best of her part and learns to loves it. I
December 5, 2025
It came across as a little tacky and while I appreciate the Christian message, it just fell a bit flat.
December 31, 2025
a sweet story
It’s a great story and a lesson for all of us to learn that we all can play a small part in God‘s plan to be a blessing to other’s!
It’s a great story and a lesson for all of us to learn that we all can play a small part in God‘s plan to be a blessing to other’s!
September 18, 2025
The Little Drummer Girl is a children’s book written by Sheila Walsh.
Summary: Isabella has always wanted to be the angel in the town’s Christmas play.
She can’t wait to be a star!
But when things don’t turn out the way she expects, will she realize who Christmas is really all about?
My Thoughts: This book is OK. It has a good message about dealing with disappointment and learning about Christmas.
The bright, painterly illustrations are also perfect for smaller children.
But, I am not a fan of this type of rhyme scheme, and it wasn’t a book I would want to read again and again. This was more of a one-time read for me.
I would like to thank Baker Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.
Summary: Isabella has always wanted to be the angel in the town’s Christmas play.
She can’t wait to be a star!
But when things don’t turn out the way she expects, will she realize who Christmas is really all about?
My Thoughts: This book is OK. It has a good message about dealing with disappointment and learning about Christmas.
The bright, painterly illustrations are also perfect for smaller children.
But, I am not a fan of this type of rhyme scheme, and it wasn’t a book I would want to read again and again. This was more of a one-time read for me.
I would like to thank Baker Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.
November 13, 2025
This is another story about the every recurring Christmas time nativity pageant at church. A little girl really wants to be the star of the show (as she sees it) - the angel proclaiming the birth of the Christ Child. But she auditions and isn't selected. Instead she is chosen to be the little drummer girl.
Though disappointed, she does her part and does it well. And in so doing she learns that the new born babe is really a king and that she is doing her part for The King.
Precious illustrations are a little reminiscent of books from the 1940s and 1950s but still capture the essence of today's life. Bright. Joyful. Full of life illustrations capture the vibe of the story and the activities surrounding Christmas and Christmas pageants.
The rhyming, story-telling text isn't quite poetry and yet it is a bit more than poetic prose. Works very well as a read-aloud story.
I received a copy as part of the Librarything.com Early Reviewers Program.
Though disappointed, she does her part and does it well. And in so doing she learns that the new born babe is really a king and that she is doing her part for The King.
Precious illustrations are a little reminiscent of books from the 1940s and 1950s but still capture the essence of today's life. Bright. Joyful. Full of life illustrations capture the vibe of the story and the activities surrounding Christmas and Christmas pageants.
The rhyming, story-telling text isn't quite poetry and yet it is a bit more than poetic prose. Works very well as a read-aloud story.
I received a copy as part of the Librarything.com Early Reviewers Program.
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