FICTION

The Christmas Story

by Robert SABUDA
illus. by Robert Sabuda. 12p. Candlewick. Sept. 2016. Tr $35. ISBN 9780763683269.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1–4—Six very simple Christmas scenes, from Mary's visitation by an angel to the Nativity in the stable, are illustrated by Sabuda's marvelous and intricate paper engineering. The clean and clear background colors give a lovely framework for the white and gold pop-ups. Of course, these books are too fragile for general library use, and the central spread of the shepherds and sheep will be especially tempting. Children may push a little too hard to get the full effect, thus ripping the book.
VERDICT For special sharing and displays, this captures the wonder of Christmas.
Reviewed by Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Sabuda is no stranger to holiday pop-up books (Chanukah Lights, rev. 11/11; The 12 Days of Christmas, rev. 11/96; etc.); this treatment of the biblical first-Christmas story is rather modest, for him. Pastel-colored pages unadorned except for text provide the backdrop for the pop-up scenes-in all white, with gold and off-white accents-of the Nativity story. A giant glinting moon soars high above the hills as, far below, a tiny Joseph and Mary journey, with donkey, to Bethlehem. On a subsequent spread, as we look down from above, we see the backs of sheep and kneeling shepherds as angels announce the birth of Jesus. The paper engineering is, as always, impressive, and comparatively sturdy as well. martha v. parravano
No stranger to holiday pop-up books (Chanukah Lights; The 12 Days of Christmas; etc.), Sabuda's treatment of the biblical first-Christmas story is rather modest, for him. Unadorned pastel-colored pages provide the backdrop for the pop-up scenes--all white, with gold and off-white accents--of the Nativity story. The paper engineering is, as always, impressive, and comparatively sturdy.
 , Oct 01, 2016

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