Seek and Circle: Christmas Stories - Alyssa Jones and (illustrator) Heath McPherson

Published by B&H Publishing Group: Nashville, Tennessee, 2020.

This is a truly beautiful book, telling the Christmas story from the Bible in a 'Where's Wally' type style. Each page introduces part of the story, which a short summary of what is going on, and then has a large, beautifully illustrated tableau, with a list of things to look for. Some of the things are directly from the Bible story (find Mary riding a donkey), some are things that could have been happening at that time (find a Roman soldier) and some of the things are a little more abstract, anachronistic, off-the-wall, or even humorous (find someone flying a kite). There are also various 'Names of God' hidden throughout the book, with a section on each page telling the reader which two are hidden within the current image.

This is a book with lots of re-readability, and enough little details to keep parents as well as kids engaged on the twentieth read. It also highlights certain parts of the Christmas story that get overlooked in other children's books. For example, it opens with the scene of Mary encountering the angel.

Worth it.


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