Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
All is calm and all is bright in this moonlit picture book only loosely based on the traditional Christmas carol. Readers will take a shine to the irrepressibly sweet bear and cub who joyfully discover and appreciate the wonders of nature in their midst, as well as their own special bond on the holy night when "A child is born, and heaven's gift brings... hope for all the world." Warnes's inky blue and purple skies are evocative of the quiet majesty the text describes. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In this variation on the classic carol, a mother bear and her cub enjoy the wonders of nature. They encounter other woodland animals living in harmony or peacefully slumbering. The soft-focus artwork is large and appealing, but the verse is clunky and the light, silvery font is difficult to read. The most striking spread shows the bears looking up into the aurora borealis, with the deep blues and florescent green/yellows evoking warmth and awe, or as the last sentence of the books says (if you can read it), "Hope for our beautiful world."-Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Lyrics to the title Christmas carol are tweaked in this picture book that speaks to love between parent and child (bears, in this case) and appreciation of nature. The illustrations are warm and inviting, though it's difficult to read the silvery text against dark-blue backgrounds. Readers will want to sing along with the song, but the meter is slightly off. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This new interpretation of the beloved Christmas carol focuses on an enchanting pair of bears, a parent and cub. The text retains the familiar beginning and then moves on to new words celebrating the beauty of the mountain setting at night under a full moon, as well as peace among the animals and love between parent and child. The lyrical phrasing refers to angels singing and heavenly peace, with the final pages telling of a special child born under a bright star, bringing hope to the world. Warnes masterfully illustrates the charismatic bears, with intimate views of the parent and child in close harmony with nature and each other. This lovely interpretation extends the concept of the song into a broader setting made accessible to children with memorable words and ever-so-sweet illustrations. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
