FlyBy Promotions was kind enough to provide me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. There are Amazon affiliate links within this text.
My family and I highly recommend this book. With absolutely beautiful illustrations, the story of The First Christmas Night takes us on the journey of the birth of Jesus. Set to the cadence of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’, the words are lyrical and fun to read. The message is beautiful, the wording is beautiful, and the story is of course the most amazing and beautiful story ever told. As you snuggle up with your loved ones this Christmas, I highly encourage you to share The First Christmas Night.
The First Christmas Night would make a wonderful gift for Christian families and children. The musical quality of the words in the story makes the book enjoyable for even the youngest of audiences. This book would be a fabulous tool to help children in youth liturgy share the story of Jesus; either by reading it as a chorus to the congregation or having it read to them by a Sunday School teacher, minister, or priest. It would also make a fantastic addition for those of you that make Christmas book advent count downs. This book is bound to become a family favorite and tradition!
Blurb:
A lyrical retelling of the birth of Christ modeled after ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, The First Christmas Night tells the beautiful story of that joyous night in Bethlehem so long ago. The poem begins with the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem through Christ’s birth, the angels’ appearance to the shepherds, and the visit by the Wise Men. The simple, yet elegant, verses will appeal to little ones and are accompanied by the rich oil illustrations of Christine Kornacki. Ages 4-8.
Excerpt:
’Twas the very first Christmas when all through the town
not a creature was stirring—there was not a sound…….
About the Author:
Keith Christopher is a composer, arranger, orchestrator, and educator, and he has served as editor and producer for several major music publishers. In addition to writing and studio producing, Keith served on the faculty at the Blair School of Music of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.
About the Illustrator:
At a very early age, Christine Kornacki developed a love for painting and bringing stories to life. After receiving a BFA in illustration from the University of Hartford, her dreams of illustrating children’s books began to take shape, including illustrating the best-selling The Sparkle Box for Ideal’s Children’s Books. Christine’s recent work also includes illustrating the six-book series for the American Girl historical doll characters Marie-Grace and Cecile. She spends her days painting in her studio, which adjoins a charming cafe in New Haven, Connecticut.
Buy Links:
Ideals Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Giveaway
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I would LOVE to win a copy of this book! This year as part of our advent we have wrapped 24 Christmas books that we love and own and we will be opening one a day to read in anticipation for Christmas. I would love another beautiful Jesus centered book to add to our collection 🙂
Sounds wonderful Nadine! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
We make applesauce cinnamon ornaments.
we all gather at my Mom’s house and open presents
We always love reading about the birth of Jesus from the Bible. Our tradition is going to our christmas eve candlelight service and then seeing christmas lights on the way home.
Our family does that every year too! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I love to sing “Silent Night” at Christmas time.
Every year when the tree goes up, we place under it in the middle the manger & everyone. So as not to forget the real meaning!
Our favorite Christmas tradition is christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve
I would love matching pajamas for the family – wonder if I can get the hubby to get on board with that one….lol Good luck with the giveaway!
i like the grinch!
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One of my absolute favorites! I hum the music from that show all the time. Do you like the original cartoon or the new movie version better? Good luck in the giveaway!
We like to string popcorn for the tree!
We tried this last year – the pets did a little redecorating…..lol I’m toying with doing it again with some trees outside for the birds…..any tips? Good luck on the giveaway!
The one family tradition that i have always loved is making cookies for Santa from scratch then getting in out pajamas and watching a Christmas movie or reading a Christmas themed book.
Sounds fabulous! I love baking with my family too 🙂 Good luck!
decorating and spending time with family, non stop Christmas music and movies are our favorite things to do. I don’t have a collection of any Christmas books yet for my 2 yr old.
This is a great one to start with – good luck in the giveaway!
We are starting a new tradition this year. I decorated a shoe box so it will be our gratitude box. The box will be placed on our table so we can write down on a slip of paper what we are thankful for.
Love it – what a fabulous idea! Good luck in the giveaway!
Going to Koziar’s Christmas Village!
that sounds like so much fun! Good Luck!
I dont know if I have a favorite Christmas story exactly but my favorite song is Little Drummer Boy and it tells a great story.
that’s my husband’s absolute favorite 🙂 Good luck!
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
I LOVE spending time with my family on Christmas Eve and going to church!
I love stockings with the kids. Thank you
I have a book called “A Story a Day Til Christmas” that we start reading on December 1st and finish at Christmas. It has great Christmas stories that the children love!
That sounds fantastic – I’ll have to look for that one – thanks for the tip! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
we love reading the polar express its a long storey but the kids love it
My favorite Christmas tradition is that my parents come over to our house for the week of Christmas. I enjoy spending time as a family and being able to go to church together.
Every year we load up our bio kids and past and present foster kids and go to the meadow lights and ride the train through the meadow and see all the lights then take a picture with santa…
Looks like a great book especially during advent season!
We like to read the night before christmas, but this one would be a great addition
We always watch all the best TV Christmas programs, and make sugar cookie, and we always go car riding to look at he lights
Our tradition is having Christmas Brunch after opening our gifts.
Having a special Christmas eve package with pajamas, a movie, books.
My kids love ruldoph.
I’d love this for our tradition. We get a new Christmas book every year and have our Christmas book basket to read from throughout the season.
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The last couple of years, my kids have really loved to sprinkle “reindeer food” on the lawn before they go to bed. Of course, we also put out cookies and milk for Santa!
My absolute favourite Christmas Story is Lucinda’s Gift by Tomi DiPaola. It’s the story of the pointsetta. I read it many times every holiday season!
Sounds like a great read – thanks for the recommendation! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
We always read the Luke chapter 2 from the Bible every Christmas morning before we open gifts.
We like baking cookies and singing carols!
My Grandma always reads from the bible on Christmas eve. Its a special time where everyone gathers in the living room to hear the story of Jesus’s birth.
My favorite tradition is baking Jesus a birthday cake for Christmas!
I’d love to read this to the kids and emphasize the spirit instead of the gifts.
We go to a live nativity!
My favorite Christmas tradition is letting the kids open a gift (always a new pair of pajamas) on Christmas Eve. My mom did this when my brother and sisters and I were small. 🙂
‘Twas the night before Christmas
We love new pajamas on Christmas Eve
We love to watch the Little Drummer Boy each year with the kids
Our tradition is to go to a local Christmas parade together every year.
My favorite Christmas tradition is all the kids decorating Gingerbread houses at our family Christmas Eve party.
Would love to win this
Everyone gets to open one Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. It’s always pajamas. After we put them on we pile in the car and look at Christmas lights
I have many favorite Christmas traditions, including but not limited to listening to the choir sing before midnight mass, waking up on Christmas morning with my family around, driving around to look at Christmas lights, and spending Christmas evening at my grandparents’ house. Thanks for the chance 🙂
Our favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree together on Black Friday and laying out our nativity scene. This year, we’re starting a new tradition and lighting the advent candles as a family each Sunday.
Love the lighting of the advent candles – I’d love to do that with my family as well 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
Trimming the tree after Thanksgiving
My daughter and I love to go around each night and turn on the lights and candles!
Our favorite tradition is going through the drive-though lights show.
i love The Little Drummer Boy
we always read the kids the Night Before Christmas on christmas eve, would love to add a book like this to our christmas tradition! We also participate in the elf on the shelf every year and our christmas pagent at church, a couple christmas traditions that we do every year!
We like to read right out of the Bible on Christmas day. I also like Nadines idea of wrapping one for each day but we don’t have that many Christmas books yet.
Our favorite tradition is to make gingerbread house for the wild animals outdoors and put them outside on Christmas day for them to eat.
Love this! Do you have a link for this? I’d love to try it! Good luck with the giveaway!
we always watch a christmas story on christmas eve! my fave christmas movie
We like to sing carols!