The Animal's Chrstmas Carol

 The Animal's Christmas Carol

By Helen Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

The animals Christmas carol was written September 1, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Helen Ward won the first Walker Prize for Children’s Illustration and twice won the British National Art Library Award.

 

 

 

 

 

Summary

 The animals Christmas carol's was about lyrical rhymes where each animal takes a turn stating how they contributed sheltering baby Jesus. The animals were considered friendly in the lyrical verses and describes the humble gifts brought to the newborn Jesus by the lion, the peacock, the camels, the ram, the woodworm, etc. One by one, the animals pledge their services to the baby Jesus sleeping in the nearby manger. Then they all sing a  traditional French Christmas carol lullaby.

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation by Genre

The genre of this book is poetry picture book. It contains collective poems with generous inclusiveness. The poems are well constructed. The shape, patterns, rhyming words, lines, and stanzas says something about what the poem means. The book has rhythm, words as patterns, and words as pictures    

 

 

 

 

Evaluation by Illustrations

The illustrations are detailed ink-and-watercolor portraits of animals.  The illustrations are realistic.  The colors are vivid and the shapes are meaningful and significant. The text line up with the illustrations and establishes the mood, setting, theme, and characters in the story. I saw the illustration of each animal as it was portrayed and actually could see the animal protecting baby Jesus in it's own way.

 

 

 

 



Motivational Activities

 The Children's Christmas carol was intended for children 4 and up. I learned the importance of everyone's duties, including animals, in the birth of Jesus. It reminded me of Jesus's significance and why his birth had so much meaning.

 

1. Let each child take a turn telling what the birth of Jesus signifies.
2. Let the child create the animal they will portray to protect or give gifts to Jesus.
3. Create a play. Let each child be an animal and demonstrate bringing gift to Jesus while lying in a manger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reader Response Questions

1. Why did the animals bring gifts to a baby?
2. Where was the baby born?
3. What was the baby's name?
4. How many animals can you name that were in this book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readers Comments

I was fascinated how the book took the birth of Jesus and used animal to tell the story. I was captured by the rhymes of the stories told and was amazed how it remained consistent throughout the book. It is a wonderful story. Although I can not hear the true sounds of the French song that was singed, I can still comprehend the meaning of the words to the song.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Books Written by The Author Include:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse      

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tin Forest      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Christmas