Reviews

A Christmas Goodnight by Nola Buck, Sarah Jane Wright

katie_chandler's review against another edition

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3.0

It’s been hard to find a toddler nativity book that we like. This one may not be a favorite, but it’s a good one that is especially good if part of your child’s bedtime routine is saying good night to things.

mnstucki's review against another edition

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4.0

Still working through the last few Christmas books I checked out for our nightly read-alouds before bedtime. This one was short and sweet. It would make a perfect read-aloud before bed on Christmas Eve.

shanny1366's review against another edition

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3.0

This is a nice, sweet Christmas Eve book for kids. My one problem with it is that everyone in the biblical scenes is white. Jesus was born in the Middle East, he and his parents would have had darker skin. This might seem like a small thing to a lot of people, but I think it's important for kids to know the historical context of the religion they are being taught.

tashrow's review

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4.0

This cozy, quiet Christmas book focuses on the nativity. Through gently rhyming stanzas, the story of Jesus’ birth is told. It is woven into a bedtime story where everyone in the nativity tale is told goodnight. It includes the animals, the angels, the star, the Wise Men, and the shepherds. Then the book moves to a modern winter scene at a farm where the good night wishes continue to the snow, the hare, and a small nativity set. This transition is made seamlessly and very successfully, tying the modern Christmas celebration directly to the birth of Jesus.

Buck has written a book that celebrates the story of the nativity in a way that small children will be able to easily understand. She successfully ties in a goodnight theme as well as a link to the modern world.

Wright’s illustrations have a jewel-colored palette and simple lines. They are modern and yet also honor the traditional, so they work well for this subject. The simplicity also works well for the very young audience with the washes of color and the clean lines.

A great pick for libraries or families looking for books that celebrate the reason for Christmas in a religious way. It’s a perfect bedtime read for Christmas Eve. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
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