The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol

by Tomie dePaola

In this old English Christmas carol the friendly stable beasts tell of the gifts they have given to the newborn Jesus.

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

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using the classic English Christmas carol, The Friendly Beasts, for his text, celebrated American picture-book artist Tomie dePaola creates a lovely holiday title here. As the verses describe the gifts that the animals of the stable gave to the Christ Child, the artwork alternates between depictions of those animals, and wordless two-page spreads depicting scenes from the Nativity Story. The complete carol, with musical notation, is included at the rear...

The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol is a beautiful book, and dePaola is in top form here. His style is unique, his people and animals instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever picked up one of his titles. As someone who grew up with his books, I find it rather difficult to analyze his work at times, but it sometimes strikes me as being a delicious blend of Renaissance and folk-art styles. Whatever the case might be, it appeals to me greatly, and this one was no exception. The text here reads very well, and would make, with its repetitive structure, for an excellent read-aloud. This may be my favorite presentation of this carol, which can also be found in picture-book form in Helen Ward's The Animals' Christmas Carol , Sarah Chamberlain's The Friendly Beasts: A Traditional Christmas Carol and Rebecca St. James' The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol . Recommended to dePaola fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring Christmas carols.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Tomie dePaola! I always love how he captures the sanctity of the birth of the Savior in his illustrations. The color scheme of this particular book is beautiful.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always charming and fun to find books that you can read leading up to Christmas or even on that very special day. Some of my most favorite are seeing how people translate some of the most beautiful songs into a story-type of work while keeping the original at heart.

Tomie dePaola is one author who just has a beautiful and simple heart that shines through his works. The artwork is gentle yet amazingly simplistic yet heartfelt at the same time. It allows you to go into an ethnically different world while yet still being a part of the human race when you close the book.

In this particular book the story can be either read or sang (there are the actual lyrics and notes for the music in the back after the story) so it could be a fun book that could be read twice over. Furthermore there are three choir boys who lead the reader onto their adventure of exploring the Nativity from the viewpoint of those who have no voice.

Although we see the illustrations as being an reenactment of the Nativity it isn't the humans who are doing the talking part. Instead each animal included in the special event announces how it has helped the Christ Child so that no present seems too small or too indirect. All in all a beautiful message to share in the holiday season.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tomie dePaola's version of The Friendly Beasts: an Old English Christmas Carol succeeds as a lovely holiday keepsake. Pairing a song from the 1100s A.D. with his own illustrations, the book enables us all to feel as though we participated in Jesus' Nativity.

The emergence of Jesus into our stained world is the Bible's focal point, but who helped usher in that holy night? A donkey proudly owns up to carrying Mary into Bethlehem. A cow yielded her own manger for the Christ child to sleep in, her hay as his pillow. A sheep donated wool to warm the newborn. A pair of doves soothed the babe with their cooing lullaby. All played parts in the miracle of that night, and the miracle of Jesus' ministry that unfolded from there.

We all desire to be near the purposes of divinity, for our impact to last forever. This book reminds us that we are invited to be part of God's plan. In creating The Friendly Beasts, Tomie dePaola presents his own unique art as a gift to the Lord. I'll rate the book two and a half stars. A simple, unambitious project it is, but the point is well made.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the clean look of the illustrations in this adaptation of a well-known Christmas carol. The pages alternate between wordless spreads and lyrics from the song accompanied by illustrations, which works nicely. I also appreciate that the music is included at the back of the boo, as I needed some help recalling the tune. This is a perfect read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers, and a great addition to any collection of singable picture books.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty pictures of the night the animals talked - one of my favorite Christmas stories/myths/legends.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful carol not often heard anymore is brought to a new generation with Tomie's signature artwork style and charm. From the donkey who "carried His mother up hill and down" to the cow who "gave Him my manger for His bed" and the dove from rafters high in the stable who cooed Him to sleep, this is just such a sweet old carol. We listen/watch the Cendarmont Kids version on Youtube, which Elliot loves because it has kids singing the song next to real barn animals from the song.

Read-aloud age recommendation: Any age since even infants would enjoy being sung to. Older kids can join in the song.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars- My only problem with this book is that it flows a little awkwardly. And it kind of just ends. But it’s so cute and the illustrations are amazing (of course)! It’s a rhyming book and each animal gets a stanza about their part in the Christmas story. Kids can catch on to the pattern “I said the *animal*....” and help read the story. This is a favorite book in our house, and it’s a tradition to read it every year.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handsome picture book of the old English Christmas carol, The Friendly Beasts. Depaola does a beautiful job telling the story of the Nativity featuring each animal's gift to the Baby Jesus. Absolutely lovely!

"And every beast, by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell,
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel."

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple, short picture book with the iconic artwork of Tomie dePaola, who illustrates the old Christmas carol in a sweet, special way. Includes music at the end. This book came from my mother's library.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic! I love anything illustrated by Tomie dePaola. I volunteered in a Catholic Daycare in the early 1990’s and used this book with the song as performed by Peter, Paul and Mary in a storytime I did for them, and I still remember how their faces lit up with delight.

[Courtney Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of the animals that give of their wool or songs to the Christ child. So sweet.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true meaning of Christmas!!!!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review at http://literaryreflections.blogspot.c...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet pictures and familiar song.

[Cathy aka The Attached Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only was able to read this one this Christmas, but I really hope to make more time to read it a few more times to my youngest child. (I do have 12 more days of Christmas to squeeze this in. )

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully illustrated and hand-lettered depiction of the carol The Friendly Beasts, about Jesus in a manger.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look up the Tabernacle Choir and Brian Stokes Mitchell singing this. You'll thank me later. :)

[michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard this Christmas carol before. It was a fun read and I wouldn't mind reading it again.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird. A bunch of animals that don't care a lick about the important baby. All they do is boast about their part in it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish it were longer.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zvZ...
The version on youtube is not quite complete. For more of dePaola's art, see it openlibrary.org.

[Sarah Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are great. The words are fun and it's even been turned into a Christmas play/musical.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple and lovely illustrations. With G.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet retelling of one of my favorite songs as a child from a play I was in in Kindergarten.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this classic should be on every family's shelf

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 2016 - really lovely, I always like dePaola's mix of folksy and reverent.

[Samantha Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
The Friendly Beasts is the simple traditional English Christmas Carol about the first Christmas beautifully illustrated by Tomie dePaola. The carol depicts all the animals and their roles in helping Jesus on the night of his birth.
Critique:
This carol is very beautiful and gives a different point of view to the well known story as it is told from the perspective of the animals and how they felt on the first Christmas. The rhymes are simple but meaningful. They are very easy to understand for children and would be beneficial in promoting poetry if it weren't for the content of the actual story. As I stated before, the illustrations are very beautiful and follow the story exactly. The book is easy to read and very enjoyable.
Response:
While I really enjoy the poetry, I would be unable to share it with my students in a public school setting because of the religious story it portrays. I still very much enjoyed the story and the illustrations that accompanied the text. I find Tomie dePaola's work to be very simple and enjoyable.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know with Tomie dePaola you are going to enjoy darling pictures on every page, so choosing this book is kind of a no brainer. But the story is good too!

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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