The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Krenzer, Rolf , Krenzer, Rolf

The Christmas Bell

32 pp. | McGraw-Hill/Gingham | October, 2003 | Trade ISBN 1-57768-410-9 $$15.95

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Maja Dusikova & Maja Dusikova. When Rachel, the shepherd's daughter, hears of the birth of Baby Jesus, she finally knows what to do with the special silver bell that she found--offer it as a gift to the baby, along with one of her father's lambs. Misty art illustrates the sentimental picture book, but unfortunately, the pedantic ending, which tells the modern reader to listen carefully for the sound of the bell at Christmas time, seems tacked on.

Reviewer: Anne St. John