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The Beasts of Bethlehem
In nineteen poems, the animals present at the birth of Christ speak out--a mouse prays for a truce with cats and traps, a bat vows to serve the Child by catching mosquitoes, and a hawk declares a temporary moratorium on hunting.
39 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 25, 2018
A good book to read on Christmas Eve to a child(ren) with vivid imaginations and/or who love animals. Each double page has a scratch art animal on the left with its (presumed) poem on the right.
According to folk legend, all beasts are blessed with the gift of speech on Christmas Eve. Here Kennedy personifies the usual (Cow, Horse, Camel, Sheep, Donkey, Goat) as well as those not typically associated with the Christmas story (Owl, Snail, Ant, Worm, Hummingbird, Hawk) to bring the Incarnation of the Son of God down to the level of a very young child. And yet, even older children—like me—appreciate the banter between the Cat and Mouse, and later between the Bat and Mosquito.
While I am not crazy about the art, the book has been a hands down favorite at our house for years. So much so, that I do not need a child around to want to pull it out. Got this from A COMMON READER* years ago when they were still publishing; it is autographed by the author.
*I was so sad when they went out of business. Got some of my best book recommendations from ACR. Of course, for my budget it is probably best, as I am still working my way through the stacks... 🤔
According to folk legend, all beasts are blessed with the gift of speech on Christmas Eve. Here Kennedy personifies the usual (Cow, Horse, Camel, Sheep, Donkey, Goat) as well as those not typically associated with the Christmas story (Owl, Snail, Ant, Worm, Hummingbird, Hawk) to bring the Incarnation of the Son of God down to the level of a very young child. And yet, even older children—like me—appreciate the banter between the Cat and Mouse, and later between the Bat and Mosquito.
While I am not crazy about the art, the book has been a hands down favorite at our house for years. So much so, that I do not need a child around to want to pull it out. Got this from A COMMON READER* years ago when they were still publishing; it is autographed by the author.
*I was so sad when they went out of business. Got some of my best book recommendations from ACR. Of course, for my budget it is probably best, as I am still working my way through the stacks... 🤔
October 25, 2012
The illustrations by Michael McCurdy are just wonderful.
December 30, 2023
Lovely woodcut illustrations paired with exquisitely imagined and worded poems. Read it to my reluctant 8-year-old, and he enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews