“The Story of the First Christmas” by Ruth Sanderson.
Ariel Books, Atlanta, 1994, 10 pages, Grades K-2. ISBN 1-57036-039-1
Pop-up books are some of the most entertaining books in library collections. Filled with cardboard cutouts that “pop up” when the page is opened, these delightful creations have long fascinated readers of all ages.
Some pop-up books have moving parts in which characters wave their hands or move parts of their bodies. The charm of these books is enhanced by the vibrant colors and shapes readers find in the books. They can actually become three-dimensional works of art. One point of importance regarding pop-up books is that they are fragile. So young children must be taught to handle these books carefully or else they can be damaged or destroyed. If the moving parts are broken, much of the magic of pop-up books is lost.
Ruth Sanderson has created a carousel pop-up book about the Nativity. She uses New Testament passages describing Our Lord’s birth. But when you have completed reading the book, you can stretch the entire book into a carousel. It is amazing. The name of the special book is “The Story of the First Christmas.”
On the first page, Sanderson has a cutout of the Annunciation. Here we see the Archangel Gabriel asking the Blessed Virgin to become the Mother of Jesus. Fortunately for everyone, Mary says yes.
Turning the page, readers will encounter an elaborate cut-out of St. Joseph leading the Blessed Mother into Bethlehem. We see them turned away at the inn, so St. Joseph must search for another place for his family. This is followed by the angels visiting the shepherds and chanting the marvelous words, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings, for unto you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.”
This wonderful news is followed by an elaborate design of the Three Kings coming to visit Jesus. Finally, in the last double sided design, we see that St. Joseph has found the Holy Family a humble home in a stable. There the Holy Child has been wrapped in swaddling clothes by His loving mother, Mary. We also see that the Three Kings’ long journey has come to a joyous end and they present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn King of the Jews.
Sanderson does not tell the entire account of the Nativity in this book. Pop-up books are simply too detailed and complicated to keep going on and on. She has selected a number of important passages from the Infancy Narratives and included them with the appropriate texts from the Bible. When readers have finished reading the book, they can take both covers and stretch them in a circle until they touch each other. They actually will form a star. When readers turn the star it will resemble a carousel. When you look at the beauty of the Infancy Narratives being told in this unique and amazing manner, it is easy to see that Ruth Sanderson has a deep love for Jesus Christ and takes pleasure in helping readers delight in this wonderful event.
Very few pop-up books are available in public libraries. The sad reason for this is that children get so excited looking at pop-up books that they frequently tear one of the moving parts. As already mentioned, much of the charm of a pop-up book is that it actually “pops up,” and some of the charm is lost if the book is damaged. But if you want a delightful book for Christmas Eve, go to the bookstore or order “The Story of the First Christmas” by Ruth Sanderson. You will like the book as much as the children. Merry Christmas!
