Amazon.in:Customer reviews: Goodnight, Manger

A unique perspective on the Christmas story.

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 22 November 2016

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.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Cute Book, Needs better Packaging

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 19 January 2023

Verified Purchase

Book was cute but arrived damaged. Couldn’t gift it. If the packaging had been better it would have probably arrived in better condition

Cynthia L.

Cute story, but back of book jacket is sticky.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 17 December 2022

Verified Purchase

Cute story. The book arrived quickly and is in excellent condition. The book jacket, however has something sticky on the back in several places. I’m afraid if I try to clean it, it may make it look even worse. This is supposed to be a new book. I’m disappointed, since I bought it as a gift.

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 2016

Verified Purchase

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?

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

6 people found this helpful

JJ

Something different and sweet.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on 7 November 2021

Verified Purchase

Not a typical rendition of Jesus' first night in the manger. Baby Jesus is distracted by the noise and the business around him as his parents try to settle Him to sleep. Written in rhyme, the story and illustrations are joyfully rendered. Sure to become a holiday favourite with our grandchildren.

Customer

A great book to add to your children's Christmas book collection

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 22 November 2021

Verified Purchase

A beautiful and precious bedtime story, written in rhyme and interspersed with humor, as Mary and Joseph try to lull the baby Jesus to sleep. Their attempts are initially in vain as the barn bursts with more and more activity--from singing angels, to leaping goats and visiting wise men who come knocking in the wee hours of the night. Will they ever get the baby Jesus to sleep? A charming book to share with little ones, not just at Christmas, but any time of the year.

One person found this helpful

Margot Reynolds

Get this book now!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 12 December 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is precious! We have both of Laura Sassi’s books- goodnight arc and manger. This one though, is a wonderful Christmas book for your children’s collection. My sons love the pictures and the sweet story of baby Jesus crying and the animals and everyone trying to help soothe him. The pictures are done beautifully, just like her other book. Can’t recommend this book more! It’s so sweet!

3 people found this helpful

WP

Wonderful Bedtime Story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 16 October 2015

Verified Purchase

Goodnight, Manger, like its predecessor Goodnight, Ark, is a delightful way to end the day with your children. Both books put a new spin on two much loved Bible stories. Some reviewers seem to be offended that the story does not reflect an exact retelling in the Biblical perspective. In my view, this is a great way to look at stories children may have heard many times, but now children can reimagine the situation. . .how to calm the animals on the ark so they can sleep and how to calm a busy stable of animals, angels and visitors to get a baby to sleep. It's a wonderful thing to get children thinking about the Bible and these stories! And the fact that the books are not overtly religious will appeal to a wider audience and maybe introduce children to these stories who may not be as familiar. I, for one, am a fan!

2 people found this helpful

J. Allen Smith

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 24 October 2017

Verified Purchase

Love the pictures. Very colorful with a Latin feel. This tells the sory of Jesus' birth in a fun way, but some people could be offended by the "casual" nature of the setting. Those who like to have a " Birthday Party for Jesus" celebration will probably love it.

One person found this helpful

R. Bouas

Beautiful book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 23 May 2017

Verified Purchase

A very fun book. Loved the illustrations and the rhyme. And I love that Jesus is not blonde hair, blue eyed. My one complaint is that they included the wise men, who were not a part of the manger scene. Worth having on your shelf, though.

2 people found this helpful

5 star		79%
4 star		15%
3 star		2%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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