Thursday, January 11, 2007

Epiphany Books

The Other Wise Man, by Henry Van Dyke, is the story of the 4th Wise Man and how he did not arrive with the other 3.

Baboushka and the Three Kings, adapted from a Russian Folk Tale by Ruth Robbins and illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov, is the story of Baboushka, who refused an invitation to join the Wise Men's journey to see the Christ Child but changed her mind and still seeks him, leaving gifts for children as she travels. This book won the Caldecott Medal. The Russian tale on which this story is based can be read online here.

The Story of the Three Wise Kings
, by Tomie dePaola, retells the Bible story from Matthew.

Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Gian Carlo Menotti, illustrated by Michele Lemieux, is based on the 1951 opera by the same title and author/composer. The work has autobiographical elements as the author was miraculously cured of lameness at the age of 4 years.

The Rabbit and the Turnip, a Chinese fable illustrated by Roswitha Gruttner and translated from the German by Richard Sadler, is a beautiful story of self-sacrificing love among the animals of the farm and woodland.

The Big Snow, by Berta and Elmer Hader, is a Caldecott winner that tells of the hunger of winter and the gift of life.

Frederick, by Leo Lionni, is a Caldecott Honor book that shows the value of everyone's contributions. There are a variety of gifts.

A Prairie Boy's Winter, by William Kurelek
, is a winter story describing the author's memories of his childhood on a farm in the 1930's.

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