The first day of Advent is almost here. Each year at the beginning of advent I fill a basket with 24 books and place it under the Christmas tree. Each day we pick a book from the basket and read it together. We have our favourite stories that are put in the basket each year, but I also try to include new stories. “Goodnight, Manger” will be a new addition to our basket this year and I can’t wait to share it with my children.
“Goodnight Manger” is the story of Mary trying to put Baby Jesus to sleep for the night. Between itchy hay, angels singing and noisy shepherds it’s all but impossible for the little baby to fall asleep. Will Mary find a way to help Baby Jesus fall into a peaceful sleep on such a busy night?
When I think of the Nativity story I always visualize a peaceful scene. Never do I think of Baby Jesus crying or the shepherds stumbling in making all kinds of noise. Everything is calm and serene in my mind. “Goodnight Manger” by Laura Sassi, tells the Nativity story in a way that just may be a little more accurate than what I envision. There is chaos and noise and a baby crying, all the things that may just have happened.
“Goodnight Manger” reminds us of Jesus’ humanity. When we was itchy and uncomfortable, he cried and when it was noisy all around him, he couldn’t sleep. The story reminded me that he lived his life here on earth as a human and can truly understand how we feel.
The story is written in rhyme, perfect for reading aloud. It’s a great story for bedtime. The story starts off slowly with Mary telling her baby that it’s time for bed, but then it builds in excitement til it calms down again at the end. The illustrations are fun and lively and will capture your child’s interest.
“Goodnight Manger” is a great story to read during the advent season. It has a unique perspective on the Christmas story that will delight your little one.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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![Goodnight, Manger by [Laura Sassi, Jane Chapman]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61z0JpgMEuL._SX260_.jpg)
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Monique Pullyblank
One Star
Reviewed in Canada on 22 January 2016Verified Purchase
Bear and Mouse Read
Goodnight Manger is one of my favorite Christmas board books on our shelf
Reviewed in the United States on 30 November 2016Verified Purchase
Goodnight Manger is one of my favorite Christmas board books on our shelf
Reviewed in the United States on 30 November 2016
I'm always struggling with how to bring big truths and complex stories down to my daughter's level. Goodnight Manger is one of my favorite Christmas board books on our shelf, because it makes the story of Christmas so accessible to a three year old. Written in terrific rhyming verse, we get a peak at what the noise and commotion of the stable the night Jesus was born might have been like. Noisy animals, singing angels, and one unexpected visitor after another. How will Mary ever get some peace and quiet so baby Jesus can sleep?Reviewed in the United States on 30 November 2016
The more we have talked about the Christmas story, the more I've found the details of this book really stuck with her. "Mama, did baby Jesus sleep in hay? Was it scratchy? Maybe a chicken gave him some soft feathers."
The familiarity of coaxing a baby to sleep - a struggle she's watched every day at our house for the last year with since her little sister was born - makes the perfect foundation for her as she's just beginning to understand the special details of the Christmas story.
I understand the criticism some reviewers have expressed that the book makes the scene feel "negative" as if the celebration of God's son being born are a hassle to Mary. Really I think the author was trying to put the story in a realistic perspective. If you've had a baby, you know the scene of giving birth in a stable full of animals perhaps wasn't as peaceful and cozy as we make it in a carol. Mary was probably trying to figure out how to care for a newborn just like any other first time mom. There is time for children to understand the complexity all of these things but, overall I really liked this book as a way to introduce the story of Jesus's birth in a context my daughter related to.
This book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review by Book Look Bloggers
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Margot Reynolds
Get this book now!!
Reviewed in the United States on 12 December 2020Verified Purchase
Antoinette Clark
Adorable pictures, animated story! Love it!
Reviewed in the United States on 13 December 2019Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
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Reviewed in the United States on 26 December 2020Verified Purchase