Award-winning author Walter Wangerin puts a fresh spin on the Nativity story in the richly illustrated Mary's First Christmas. Listen in as Mary tells a 5-year-old Jesus the story of the events leading up to and following the very first Christmas. Intended to be read as a bedtime story over the course of four nights, Mary's First Christmas is a book to be cherished again and again, ideally read the four nights preceding Christmas. Care to start a tradition? (Ages 4 to 8)

Publisher
On the night you were born the whole sky exploded with love, and the angels shouted, and more than a thousand thousand hearts were in love with my baby Jesus on his birthday! Gather near and listen to a wondrous bedtime story, told long ago by a special mother to her very special son. Listen as Mary tells five-year-old Jesus the story of the first Christmas—of his own birth and the remarkable events that surround it. Award-winning author Walter Wangerin tells this moving Christmas story in four parts, to be read in one sitting or over the course of four nights. And artist Timothy Ladwig brings to glowing life the people and places of Jesus’ young life. Listen. Look. And you, too, will experience the wonder and glory of Mary’s First Christmas

Book Description
A lavishly illustrated picture book that retells the story of the birth of Jesus, through Mary's eyes, this delightful book is for children and their parents to share together.

Card catalog description
Four readings based on the Christmas narratives in the Bible in which the Blessed Virgin Mary tells her five-year-old son, Jesus, the story of His birth.

From the Publisher
Master Storyteller Walter Wangerin Weaves an Unforgettable, Heartwarming Christmas Tale Lie down, and I will tell you a story before you sleep. As Jesus crawls under the blanket, his mother stretches out beside him, saying, It's a true story. It's a very important story. It is the story of how you were born. Gather close and listen to a story--a wonderful bedtime story, told long ago by a special mother to her very special son. Tune in your ears and your hearts as Mary tells five-year-old Jesus the story of the first Christmas--of his own birth, and the remarkable events that surrounded it. Mary's First Christmas unfolds in four installments, meant to be read to children each night before they go to sleep. It tells how Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem, how a baby boy was born in a stable, and how glorious angels, adoring shepherds, and reverent wise men came to worship. Award-winning author Walter Wangerin Jr. weaves the mystery and glory of that timeless birth into a first person narrative by Jesus' own mother. This magical retelling of the Christmas story will awaken the sense of wonder in children and parents alike. Featuring the rich, full-color artwork of Tim Ladwig. Mary's First Christmas is a book that families will treasure--an heirloom storybook, destined to be read year after year as part of the family Christmas tradition.

From the Author
Walter Wangerin Jr. is one of the finest storytellers of our day. He has achieved recent acclaim for his 150,000-plus best-seller, The Book of God. Other of his popular, outstanding books include The Book of the Dun Cow (which won the National Book Award in 1979), The Book of Sorrows, Ragman and Other Cries of Faith, Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Faith (adapted as a screenplay by Horton Foote), The Manger is Empty, Reliving the Passion (which won a Gold Medallion award), Mourning Into Dancing, Little Lamb Who Made Thee?, As for Me and My House, several children’s books, The Book of God for Children, and Prayer. He currently holds the Jochum chair at Valparaiso University, where he is writer in residence. He and his wife, Thanne, live in Valparaiso, Indiana. Tim Ladwig is an illustrator whose recent books include Wangerin’s Probity Jones and the Fear-Not Angel, Morning Has Broken and Psalm 23. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his wife and three children. October ’9

From the Back Cover
On the night you were born the whole sky exploded with love, and the angels shouted, and more than a thousand hearts were in love with my baby Jesus on his birthday! Gather near and listen to the wondrous bedtime story, told long ago by a special mother to her very special son. Listen as Mary tells five-year-old Jesus of the first Christmas -- of his own birth and the remarkable events that surrounded it. Award-winning author Walter Wangerin tells this moving story in four parts, to be read in one sitting or over the course of four nights. And artist Timothy Ladwig brings to glowing life the people and places of Jesus' young life. Listen. Look. And you too will experience the wonder and glory of Mary's First Christmas.

About the Author
Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Among his books are The Book of God; Paul: A Novel; Whole Prayer; Reliving the Passion; Preparing for Jesus; Mary’s First Christmas; Peter’s First Easter; Ragman and Other Cries of Faith; Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Grace; Little Lamb, Who Made Thee? Mourning Into Dancing; The Book of Sorrows; A Miniature Cathedral; The Orphean Passages; and Crying for a Vision. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is writer-in-residence at Valparaiso University and holds the Jochum Chair.

ANNOTATION

Four readings based on the Christmas narratives in the Bible in which the Blessed Virgin Mary tells her five-year-old son, Jesus, the story of His birth.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

On the night you were born the whole sky exploded with love, and the angels shouted, and more than a thousand hearts were in love with my baby Jesus on his birthday! Gather near and listen to the wondrous bedtime story, told long ago by a special mother to her very special son. Listen as Mary tells five-year-old Jesus of the first Christmas -- of his own birth and the remarkable events that surrounded it. Award-winning author Walter Wangerin tells this moving story in four parts, to be read in one sitting or over the course of four nights. And artist Timothy Ladwig brings to glowing life the people and places of Jesus' young life. Listen. Look. And you too will experience the wonder and glory of Mary's First Christmas.

Author Biography: Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Among his books are The Book of God; Paul: A Novel; Whole Prayer; Reliving the Passion; Preparing for Jesus; Mary's First Christmas; Peter's First Easter; Ragman and Other Cries of Faith; Miz Lil and the Chronicles of Grace; Little Lamb, Who Made Thee? Mourning Into Dancing; The Book of Sorrows; A Miniature Cathedral; The Orphean Passages; and Crying for a Vision. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is writer-in-residence at Valparaiso University and holds the Jochum Chair.

SYNOPSIS