The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy
| The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Jo Heffer
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| Summary: The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book is a wonderful anthology of stories that's perfect for sharing with children in the run up to the festive season. This book has it all with a combination of Bible stories, leagends and tales around the world. There is something for everyone to enjoy - both children and parents - and all the stories are superbly illustrated too. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 128 | Date: September 2010 |
| Publisher: Lion Hudson plc | |
| ISBN: 978-0745969169 | |
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Christmas is such a magical time of year especially for children. Sometimes though, with all the excitement of presents, decorations and parties, they can forget what Christmas is really about. The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book is perfect for sharing wonderful tales and legends from around the world that help to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
This attractive anthology is divided into three sections. The first contains Christmas stories from the Bible. These stories start with the angel Gabriel's visits to Zechariah and Mary, follow the events in Bethlehem and end up with King Herod's plan to try to kill the baby Jesus. You could dip into these stories although it is probably best to read them in order so that your child appreciates the full story.
The second section is Stories about Christmas traditions and these come from all around the world. If you have ever wondered when there were first Christmas trees or why we have tinsel, you can find out here. These entertaining stories are often based on folklore and make fascinating reading and provide lots of talking points too.
The final section is Christmas tales and legends and these too are traditional stories that have been passed down through the different generations. These are often uplifting stories from across Europe and beyond that often have pertinent messages about the season of giving.
I think that the combination of the different types of stories in the anthology works very well and makes enjoyable reading for both parents and children. All of the stories are quite short with each one only consisting of two or three pages. For this reason they make ideal bedtime reading particularly in the run up to Christmas. All of the stories are written and retold by Bob Hartman who writes with a simplicity that will be very appealing to small children. Each story also has its own bright and colourful illustrations that really add to the enjoyment. I think this collection of stories is great for sharing but more confident readers may also enjoy reading them by themselves.
I have been sharing this book with my five year old daughter who loves the range and variety of the stories. She likes to dip in and choose a story from the contents page depending on what appeals to her at the time. It does mean that she is starting to get excited about Christmas but this book is also helping her to think about what Christmas is really about for people across the world.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
If your children are starting to get excited about Christmas, as well as reading this book, you could also look at The Christmas Unicorn by Anna Currey.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book by Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy at Amazon.com.
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