Mary and Joseph make their way to Bethlehem in this lovely picture-book Nativity Story from Switzerland, finding that there is no place in the inn and that they must make do with the stable. When angels bring the news of the Christ child's birth to the local shepherds, the youngest amongst them, Peter, alerts all of the other little children, who band together and seek out this extraordinary babe. Their singing, candlelit procession is interrupted, at the center of the book, by a two-page spread containing the music for their songs: Away In a Manger and O Come Little Children. The adults from their village, in the meantime, as well as three kings from afar are also seeking the child, and eventually a huge crowd arrives at the stable - too many to fit inside. Joseph brings the manger to the door, so that all may see, and the story ends as a chorus of children sing Silent Night to the Baby Jesus...

Originally published in Switzerland as Ihr Kinderlein kommet ("Come Ye Children"), Mares and Paul Nussbaumer's Away In a Manger: A Story of the Nativity gives a decidedly Swiss retelling of the story of the Nativity. Joseph and Mary make their way through deep snow to Bethlehem, and take shelter at a stable on the edge of a forest. Mary is a blond, the villagers bring food items that include bacon (yes, I chuckled at that), and the children's procession/choir sings European carols. All of this is perfectly fine with me - I think it natural that people interpret religious stories through the lens of their own cultures, something seen across the world, in all nations - but I mention it because some readers seem to find it objectionable. Such readers might want to avoid this one. For the rest of us, there is a sweetly engaging narrarive here to be enjoyed, and some luminously beautiful artwork. Paul Nussbaumer's paintings are full of light, and have a magical, impressionistic quality that I found very appealing. My favorite scene of all (typically, given my love of winter vistas) was the one in which Mary and Joseph make their way through the snow:



A lovely book, one I highly recommend to anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated Nativity stories. ( )