The Christ Child

Like the blue bird waiting in your own back yard, there is a wonderful treasure trove of Christmas gifts right in our own little boro - at the Book Center in  Bryn Athyn Cathedral.  At this time of year, nothing raws me in more than the beautifully reissued classic, The Christ Child, a telling of the Christmas story as told in Matthew & Luke, illustrated by Maud & Miska Petersham.  

I'll let Lisa Alfelt share what so many of us who grew up with The Christ Child feel about this tender retelling :
Witness a literary nativity when the Petershams' luminous and memorable children's classic, The Christ Child, enjoys a limited rebirth this holiday season.

Maud (1890-1971) and Miska (1888-1960) Petersham were a talented and devoted husband-and-wife illustration team, who wrote and illustrated more than sixty books for children, and illustrated over a hundred works written by other authors. The couple received the Caldecott Medal for The Rooster Crows---a book of American songs, rhymes and games in the tradition of Mother Goose---in 1946. A single illustrator is chosen each year to receive this prestigious award, and they were also given the 1942 Caldecott (Honor) Award for An American ABC.

The Christ Child, first published in 1931, is one of their most beloved books. The book transports children and adults alike from the prophecy of Christ's coming and his miraculous birth to the Holy Family's flight into Egypt.  Brief text taken straight from the Gospels is brought to life in 24 color and 21 black and white illustrations that have become sweet remains for so many families. 

The Petershams traveled all the way to Palestine to create the art for this book, and wandered around Nazareth and Bethlehem, sitting in fields with shepherds who still live as their counterparts did two thousand years ago.

For thousands of families, The Christ Child book has been an important part of celebrating Christmas year after year. It is a timeless family treasure.

A Special Treat  ~ ~  This year, we've been given a special treat ~ our pastor,  Rev. Jeremy Simons, is giving a 4-week series of Tuesday afternoon talks on favorite Christmas stories & songs.  The reviews of his 11/27 talk on A Christmas Carol were excellent!  This coming Tuesday, he turns his loving attention to The Christ Child.  A must-experience hour!  All are welcome.  December 4, Bryn Athyn Cathedral, 4:00-5:00 p.m., free.  FYI - this is not a story hour for children, but directed to adults;  please leave the ones at home.