The Nativity: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

by Julie Vivas

The biblical story of the Nativity is one about faith, love--and a miracle. With illustrations that are enchanting and unexpected, Julie Vivas reveals the human side to Mary's story, beautifully imagining the Angel Gabriel delivering the news to her, the exhausting journey with Joseph to Bethlehem, and at last the deliverance of the baby Jesus.

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

36 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

One of Australia's foremost illustrators, Julie Vivas's work for the world renowned Possum Magic (written by Mem Fox) began a career as a children's illustrator that has since seen the creation of some very important picture books. Julie was born in Adelaide, lived in Melbourne and Sydney as a child, and later studied interior design in Sydney. After living in Spain for a number of years she returned to Sydney with her family and her illustrating career began with The Tram to Bondi Beach. Her very distinctive watercolour style is seen in such well-known books as Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, The Nativity, Let the Celebrations Begin, Let's Eat, Hello Baby, and Sleepy Pendoodle. Julie has always dealt with controversial issues in her pictures in an uncompromising and down-to-earth way. Julie's most recent title is Cuddle Time (written by Libby Gleeson).

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. I consider myself a conniseur of Christmas books, and this may be my favorite illustrated scriptural version now. The text is from the King James Version of the Bible, and the illustrations are whimsical and sacred at the same time. I absolutely love it.

[Beth Brekke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas story nearly word for word from St. Luke. The illustrations are a bit unusual but a nice way for the littles to enjoy their own copy and learn the true meaning of Christmas.

[Marissa Genta Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite nativity picture book. The text is taken from the KJ Bible and the illustrations are a treat. The tattered wings and combat boots on the angels are a fun interpretation. Pregnant Mary is portrayed more realistically in this cartoon style than in more traditional renderings. Joseph looks as worried and weary as he is protective and awed by his new family. Vivas' style is human and whimsical at the same time. Some may be bothered by the illustration of a naked newborn Jesus (it's a boy!) but I thought it was precious.

[Maxwell Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

I learned a new word “espoused”, but is was the only thing I liked about this book. Mummy isn’t religious, but I haven’t made my mind up yet. This story was worded weirdly, the sentence structure was odd and I didn’t really understand what happened.

[Agnė · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5
The text of this picturebook -- the Nativity story from the King James version of the Bible -- is brought to life by whimsical and cartoonish but at the same time surprisingly realistic (and clever!) Vivas' illustrations:

[Lois]

I read this book every year at Christmas. Beautifully illustrated by Julie Vivas. From Joseph cupping his hands to help Mary get on the donkey to Jesus' peek-a-boo eyes after Mary has "brought forth her firstborn son" the illustrations TELL THE STORY.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think people will either love or hate these cartoony illustrations. I disliked them. I guess I prefer an illustration of Mary that is more ethereal than looking like a character from the Family Circus.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, of course I love the story because it is about the birth of Christ! The aft, gentle illustrations make this a keeper. There are a plethora of versions of the Christmas story and this one is worth purchasing.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text is the KJV and the illustrations are amazing.... Gabriel having tea with Mary and wearing work boots!

[Sarah Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own the read cover- 1988 first edition~! The artwork is stunning- it is the same illustrator as Gordon Wilfred McDonald Patridge if you are familiar.

The text is authentic excerpts from the King James Version of the birth story of Christ. But the story is told in visuals. It brings your attention to the uniqueness of this glorious Angel-involved beautiful event. The characters are a tad modernized, and the illustrator uses culturally diverse images. Adults will smile or even laugh as Mary has to be hoisted onto the donkey at her full 9 month size- and the images are an array across two pages.

Nice-sized book for reading aloud, with sturdy pages for all to see, and this book will help children think more fluently and critically about the scripture of Jesus' birth through the images and concepts creatively portrayed by the author.

[Katrina Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite! I don't know how she combines all of these things, but the illustrations are beautiful in ethereal pastels, funny (boot-wearing angels who get stuck in trees), and so very down to earth. That's my favorite thing about them--this Mary looks like she's about to pop on her to way to Bethlehem and Joseph has to shove her up on the donkey. And after she gives birth, she is too exhausted to even shoo the chickens away--and Joseph gets to hold the newborn baby for once! She does such a good job of making the Incarnation feel truly human.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While The Nativity, by Julie Vivas, is intended for early readers, I love how the contemporary style in which she depicts the familiar characters makes everyone much more relatable to even an adult readership. We have such unwavering notions of Joseph, Mary, and the Angel Gabriel in our heads that it can be challenging to imagine their truest essence in which they are much more like you and me than we might perceive. The text, derived from the well known scriptural verses in the book of Luke are distilled to the most pertinent in the telling of the birth of Jesus.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book from learning about the story at church to seeing how it is illustrated and told. I loved the watercolors that were illustrations and how it was watercolor. The water color brought all of the illustrations together and allowed for us to get the true story. I liked how in points of the book it was just an illustration and no words so it had a better meaning and deeper meaning as well. Many people know the story about Jesus but often you have to draw a picture for yourself whereas Julie Vivas gives us these illustrations.

[Reading With Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nativity, illustrated by Julie Vivas, honors the birth of Jesus. This version of the Nativity takes the words directly from the Bible and illustrates the journey Mary and Joseph take to welcome Jesus into this world. It provides a realistic depiction of pregnancy, humorous and difficult yet very authentic. Julie Vivas does an amazing job in bringing the people of the Nativity to life and reminds us that they were ordinary people like us, seeing and experiencing an extraordinary occurrence.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Vivas is one of my top three children's book illustrators, so I was ecstatic to find this version of the Nativity. I love that the words are simply those from the Bible (KJV), and I love Vivas's signature earthy style applied to this most important story. I just wish she hadn't had the wise men at the stable--they actually arrived when Jesus was two or so.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Julie Vivas' illustrations and her work in this book is no exception. However, I found the light, whimsical and humorous style of her illustrations detracted from the gravitas of Jesus' birth and didn't match with the KJV Biblical text.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version of the Nativity story uses Vivas' folksy illustrations and combines it with the Bible story of the birth of Jesus. This would be a nice picture book to share with young readers during the Christmas season to help them understand the true meaning of the holiday.

[Ca Salchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this every night on Christmas Eve. The artwork touches my heart. This book is so special to me. I have bought copies for each of my kids and tonight I found out my daughter gave a copy of this book to one of her friends.

[Lauren Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leading up to Christmas I have been reading many picture books about Christmas to my 7 year old daughter. This book tells the story of the nativity entirely through Bible verses. The pictures are simple but interesting.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Popular illustrator Julie Vavas Possum Magic, When I went Walking) uses her distinctive illustrative style to retell the Nativity story. Minimal text with supportive illustrations with some wordless spreads makes the book very accessible.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, Vivas' illustrations certainly enliven the story and help bring it closer to the young reader. And the text is not an adaptation, but excerpts from the King James Bible. One could do worse, if one wanted to read a Christian Christmas story to little children. I read it on Open Library.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful illustrations accompany the Nativity story. They show the human side of this incredible event.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite nativity story.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite Christmas books.

[Emily Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a religious book but helps the kids learn an easy way of how Jesus got here and where he was born

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is from the Bible. The illustrations are not liked by some people and therefore the book has been challenged or banned in various places.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written nativity story with unique, gorgeous illustrations.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites!

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rendition of the nativity of Jesus Christ.

The sentence structure and wording was strange; but the illustrations were pretty.