Silent Night

The Christmas Choir series launches with this reverent and accessible adaptation of a favorite carol. Hawthorne (The Night Flower) pairs the song’s familiar lyrics with stylized gouache images that chronicle the Nativity. In her rendition, the drama unfolds under a black, star-speckled night sky above a hilly Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary, two brown-skinned travelers, take shelter in the spare-looking stable where their “holy infant” is born. All the key characters make an appearance—angels, shepherds, magi, and a menagerie of gentle animals. Trees and leaves accent the scenes, as do bright splashes of color from the hillside buildings, the kings’ rich garments, and vibrant blankets that swaddle. The book concludes with a note about the song’s origin and a page of lyrics. Ages 3–6. [em](Oct.) [/em]