The Very First Christmas

By Paul L. Maier

Book Overview

Is the first Christmas just a story--or did it really happen?

On a quiet, snow-filled evening, young Christopher asks a question many children eventually wonder: Is the Christmas story real? As they sit together in a mountain cabin, his mother gently opens the story--not as make-believe, but as history.

Through their conversation, the night around them fades, and the world of Bethlehem comes into view. Meet Mary, chosen in faith. Walk beside Joseph. Hear the angels' announcement to shepherds. Follow the long road that leads Wise Men to the child.

With warmth and clarity, Gold Medallion Award-winning author Paul L. Maier presents the Nativity as it has been handed down in Scripture--rooted in real people, real places, and real events.

The Very First Christmas invites families to read and reflect together:

See the Christmas story grounded in history, not legend Engage big questions of faith with clear, honest answers Notice details often missed in traditional retellings Linger over realistic, richly detailed illustrations

Perfect for children ready to ask deeper questions, this beautifully illustrated book helps parents and grandparents share the truth of Christmas with confidence--showing how historical reality and the wonder of Christ's birth belong together.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0570050642
• ISBN13: 9780570050643
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.1" x 11.1"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5

Customer Reviews

Very detailed book; awesome illustrations but for older kids

This book is about the birth of Jesus Christ and more. The book breaks apart each section of the story from the gospel of Luke. It's actually a story within a story of a mom teaching her son about the real meaning of Christmas. Your kids will learn about the naming of the months of July and August and the greek word for Carpenter, etc. It's a great book but for older kids. The illustrations are so life like. Well worth the money and it will be a book that can be read for years.

This book returns the Christmas focus to where it belongs

This Gold Medallion Book Award title (for excellence in Evangelical Christian literature) is easy to overlook, since it appears to be yet another illustrated account of the birth of Jesus. Instead, what we have here is a recognized historian writing a kid-friendly book explaining some of the historical context of the Nativity story by having a mother answer her inquisitive child's many questions.As Christopher's mom reads from gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2, she responds to her eight-year old son's questions about Caesar Augustus, registering for the census, why Joseph was not the father of Jesus Christ, why God chose Mary to be Jesus' mother, how old she might have been, where she lived, the lineage of King David, why Christmas is celebrated on December 25, what the stable was like, why there wasn't any room at the inn, why the shepherds were terrified at the sight of the angel, and how St. Luke knew "all this stuff."This book is highly recommended to Christians of all traditions, as well as to non-Christian families who may be curious about what's really behind the Christmas story. As the author states in his brief introduction, many "children's Christmas books are often long on fancy and short on fact." I would agree when he says, "these pages...return the Christmas focus to where it belongs." The gospel story is no fairy tale, and here Paul L. Maier places it within the context of history, so children like Chris in this story can learn "about real people and real things that really happened."

A great Christmas book for children

Young Christopher is tired of fairytales, and wants his mother to begin reading real stories to him. With Christmas approaching, his mother comes to him with the Bible, to read him the story of the very first Christmas, as found in the Book of Luke. Together, they read the passage, and discuss many things.This is a great book. The text of the story was simple enough for my 7-year-old son to understand, and I believe that his reading the story will have more impact than my reading it to him. The illustrations by Francisco Ordaz are absolute masterpieces, and add greatly to the impact of the story. I recommend this book 100%!

Clear explanation of Christ's birth

This beautifully illustrated book explains many things about the biblical story of Christ's birth that can confuse children -- such as, why weren't Mary and Joseph married when she got pregnant, why were they going to Bethlehem, and why didn't they just stay in a hotel? I felt it wasa bit complicated for my 5 year old -- he will benefit from it more in the years to come. If you like this book you'll also love the author's book on Easter.

Finally, a book for children about the Real Christmas story!

A wonderful little book. It relates the Christmas story in a spiritual and historical context for children. It is a good introduction of the story of the birth of Jesus for children, since it explains a number of Biblical events in a way even a young child can understand their meaning. Nice illustrations, too.