Book Descriptions
for How Many Miles to Bethlehem? by Kevin Crossley-Holland and Peter Malone
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
“I am Mary. Tight as a drum. Round as the lady moon calling out to me.” Kevin Crossley-Hollands’s vibrant retelling of the Nativity story begins with the voice of the pregnant Mary and ends with the voice of the “baby who will cradle the world.” Each two-page spread moves the story forward from a new perspective: the innkeeper, the ox, the donkey, the brightest star, the Wise Men, the Angels, and others, including King Herod, who threatens the newborn baby whom others would call “king.” Herod’s threat is an unusual element in a picture-book presentation of the Nativity story, one that provides reference to the broader context in which the story of Jesus’ life takes place. It’s a single ominous note in a glorious celebration magnificently complemented by Peter Malone’s radiant paintings. (Ages 5–10)
CCBC Choices 2005 . © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Two modern masters illuminate the Nativity story, creating a sumptuous gift book for families to cherish.
Mary, great with child. The lively donkey. The dignified wise men. The glorious angels. All the beloved figures of the nativity story are given new life by acclaimed poet and novelist Kevin Crossley-Holland, who links their tales into a chain of voices revealing the miracle and meaning of Christmas. Peter Malone's illustrations glow with the same majestic grace. This is a book for art lovers to admire, poets to praise, and families to read together and treasure.
Mary, great with child. The lively donkey. The dignified wise men. The glorious angels. All the beloved figures of the nativity story are given new life by acclaimed poet and novelist Kevin Crossley-Holland, who links their tales into a chain of voices revealing the miracle and meaning of Christmas. Peter Malone's illustrations glow with the same majestic grace. This is a book for art lovers to admire, poets to praise, and families to read together and treasure.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.