Voices of Christmas, Hardcover

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–Grimes presents 14 poems, each preceded by a Bible verse, telling the story of the Nativity through the voices of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, the innkeeper, Herod, and so on. The poems, mostly unrhymed free verse, use simple language and a rolling rhythm that makes them a pleasure to read aloud. Gaspar, one of the Wise Men, begins his verse with &All those years of poring over/charts and scrolls on astronomy,/then suddenly, it was as if/the Morning Star/leapt from the page/and rose into the sky. The realistic paintings, rendered in muted nighttime shades of blue, gray, brown, and yellow, depict intense people in the midst of a momentous event, their glowing faces bowed in reverence or raised to the heavens. This lovely and heartfelt book adds a deeper perspective to the oft-told story and will enhance most holiday collections.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library END

From Booklist

There are many versions of the Christmas story that fall into the holiday category. This one, with its depth of religious feeling, is closer to Grimes’ book about Easter, At Jerusalem’s Gate (2005). Most of the voices of the title are familiar: Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Herod, among others. But lesser known biblical voices get a say as well, for instance Anna, who has spent her life worshipping at the Temple and recognizes Jesus for who he is. Writing in a personal free-verse style, Grimes makes these characters seem very flesh-and-blood. Joseph is ready to cast out Mary: “Why has she done this to me?” The Innkeeper is satisfied with her actions. After all, who would give up a warm bed for strangers? Herod is unnuanced: “His death will be my joy!” The paintings, focusing on individuals, are solid but sometimes miss the text’s inherent drama. Each spread begins with a simple character introduction (a link to an appropriate biblical text would have been helpful). An included audio CD helps bring these voices to life. Grades 3-6. --Ilene Cooper

Review

Grimes brings her lyrical style---and a compassionate, human-centered tone---to the Nativity story. Each double-page spread comprises three parts: a character’s portrait is vividly rendered; a biblical passage establishes the current segment of the overarching narrative; and a poem offers readers entrance to the story through the eyes of the spotlighted character, from Gabriel to Mary to Herod to the innkeeper. The monologues are sparely poetic, emphasizing the humanity of each iconic figure: after being told that she will deliver the child of God, Mary is “rooted to this dirt floor, / dizzy with wonder, / pinching my wrist, / waiting to wake / from this dream.” The text is unabashedly spiritual; the book design is sumptuous, with its gold typeface and endpapers; the paintings are dramatically composed, alternately dark and luminous (or sometimes both). Together, they make a familiar story seem newly resonant. (The Horn Book Magazine)

Grimes presents 14 poems, each preceded by a Bible verse, telling the story of the Nativity through the voices of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, the innkeeper, Herod, and so on. The poems, mostly unrhymed free verse, use simple language and a rolling rhythm that makes them a pleasure to read aloud. Gaspar, one of the Wise Men, begins his verse with “All those years of poring over/charts and scrolls on astronomy,/then suddenly, it was as if/the Morning Star/leapt from the page/and rose into the sky.” The realistic paintings, rendered in muted nighttime shades of blue, gray, brown, and yellow, depict intense people in the midst of a momentous event, their glowing faces bowed in reverence or raised to the heavens. This lovely and heartfelt book adds a deeper perspective to the oft-told story and will enhance most holiday collections.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (School Library Journal)

Grimes uses her talent as a poet to retell the Nativity story from several different viewpoints, each one a distinct voice with its own style. Fourteen poems in free verse convey the story, from the announcement of the impending birth by the angel Gabriel to the final poem directed to readers. The attractive design includes a double-page spread for each character, with a short Bible verse and the poem set in gold type against dark backgrounds and the illustration of the character attractively integrated into the spread. Each character is a real person with his or her own concerns and fears, and the whole of the Nativity story is conveyed through the sum of their individual stories. Velasquez's striking, dramatic illustrations add to the personality of the characters, who are clearly of Middle Eastern ethnicity. (CD) (Picture book/religion. 6 and up) (Kirkus Reviews)

From the Back Cover

Gabriel “paced the halls of heaven” as he memorized God's message to Mary. He wondered what she would say.The Christmas story unfolds, as never before, through the voices of those who witnessed the Messiah's birth. Listen to Joseph's struggle. Rejoice with Elizabeth and Zachariah. Worship with the magi. Hear the fear in Herod's voice. Receive the blessing of Simeon and Anna. And, like the shepherds, shout for joy!

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin's Notebook, Talkin' About Bessie, Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, and Words with Wings. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in California.

Eric Velasquez, the son of Afro-Puerto Rican parents, was born in Spanish Harlem and grew up in Harlem in New York City. As a child, his love for doodling and drawing was strongly encouraged by his mother. From his grandmother he inherited a love of music and from his father he developed a love of movies. Growing up in this setting, Eric says, "Becoming an artist was a natural choice for me. I have never thought of being anything else."