The creature parade to Bethlehem continues (see The Animals' Christmas Carol, reviewed above) in Bunting's (Smoky Night) somewhat self-conscious poems about the lowliest beings to have witnessed Jesus' birth ("I am Rat./ Colorless/ as darkening dirt"). Minor's (Pumpkin Heads!) shimmering watercolors, lit as if by moon and stars, capture desert vistas and the distinguishing characteristics of Snake, Cockroach, Scorpion, Bat and others who traveled afar to be present, if unnoticed, at the Nativity. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Bunting puts an interesting spin on the story of Jesus' birth in this beautifully illustrated book. The unlikely characters of snake, toad, scorpion, cockroach, bat, spider, and rat each take a page to introduce their selves. To complement each page of text, illustrator Wendell Minor creates a framed portrait of each animal with amazing detail. Each animal exclaims, "I will be there" as it makes its journey across the desert sand to see the baby Jesus. Unnoticed in the little stable, these creatures witness the events of the night from the shadows. The dark brown and deep blue tones are repeated throughout the book, and contrast with the light from the bright North Star and the warm glow coming from inside the stable. The poetic writing style adds to the peaceful tone of the story about the little animals. Usually the creatures are hidden from view, but in this unique portrayal of the nativity story, the reader gets a glimpse of them as they are each revealed in a brief moment. This book will add spice to any collection of Christmas books. 2001, Clarion Books, Ages 4 to 8.
—Tiffany Webb
This poetic narrative offers a perspective on the Christmas story told by the smaller, less loved creatures that were there (a scorpion adorns the cover). The text is nicely illustrated with paintings in gouache and watercolors. 2001, Clarion Books, $16.00. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: C. Henebry SOURCE: Parent Council, September 2001 (Vol. 9, No. 1)
Gr 1-3-Nativity stories often mention the ox and lamb as humble visitors to the holy stable where Jesus was born. Here Bunting shares the view of seven other creatures that were also witnesses on that special night. Snake, toad, scorpion, cockroach, bat, spider, and rat all offer a brief poem, always ending with the refrain, "I will be there." Minor's gouache-and-watercolor illustrations feature zoomed-in views of each narrator and occasional double-page spreads from one animal's perspective (snake on a vast expanse of sand, rat nestled in the straw). The last line sums up, "No one will look/beyond the light/to darkness/and the corner where we watch,/unwatched./They will not know/or care./But we were there." Libraries with active Christmas collections will want to add this title for its unique perspective. The poetry may inspire youngsters to create verses of their own for other "less loved" creatures.-G. C. BYRD, Donald & Susan Kuklin. The Harlem Nutcracker. photos. by Susan Kuklin. unpaged. CIP. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun. 2001. Tr $19.99. ISBN 0-7868-0633-8. LC 00-46172. Gr 1-3-In Byrd's "inversion of the traditional Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann.-The music is Ellington, not Tchaikovsky. The choreography is jazz dancing, not classical ballet." The beautifully designed book captures the stage production featuring an African-American grandmother named Clara and her family at her Sugar Hill mansion in Harlem on Christmas Eve. Her husband Gus, who has recently passed away, magically appears and presents her with a nutcracker, before vanishing. The family gathering presents conflict, drama, happiness, and love and, in the end, the nutcracker is passed to a new generation and Clara joins her beloved Gus in death. Readers can enjoy the story, whether they are actually reading the text or simply looking at the lavish, powerful photographs of onstage action-but perhaps because of this live-action quality, some of the shots are not quite as crisp as others. This fresh reinterpretation of the holiday classic will hold a special appeal for young people familiar with the original and for budding performers.-L. F. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
The indefatigable Bunting (Gleam and Glow, above, etc.) looks "beyond the light / to darkness / and the corner" where shadows hide spider, scorpion, bat, rat, cockroach, and snake, all of whom have come to join the cattle and other livestock gathered around baby Jesus. Though snake's reference to "the curving snake of sand that follows me" is obscure, in general the spare, rhythmic text makes its point ("I am there"), while effectively capturing a sense of the starlit night's significance. Minor's (Cat, What Is That?, p. 941) art looks less finished than usual, however, which would be more acceptable were it consistent-but in jolting contrast to the close-ups of spider and rat, in which every bristle and hair is carefully limned, the pictures of lamb, cow, and donkey, as well as some of the wider landscapes, look like they were painted with a spray gun. An uneven execution, but an eye-opening, consciousness-raising addition to the plethora of "animals at the manger" tales nonetheless. (Picture book. 6-8)
"Bunting offers an unusual perspective on the Nativity story. . . .Minor's realistic artwork captures the unusual menagerie in all its scaly, warty, beady-eyed, spindly legged charm." Booklist, ALA
Nativity stories often mention the ox and lamb as humble visitors to the holy stable where Jesus was born. Here Bunting shares the view of seven other creatures that were also witnesses on that special night. . . .The poetry may inspire youngsters to create verses of their own for other "less loved" creatures.
School Library Journal
Bunting's free verse is graceful and accessible.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
