Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

This is a gorgeous depiction of the Christmas nativity, as told in the classic Christmas carol Silent Night, There is so much to examine in all of the pictures, this will be a favorite for years to come.

A beautiful picture book to share with younger children. The Christmas story is retold through the lyrics of the traditional carol, with simple yet heartfelt illustrations giving resonance to the text. Perfect for 4-6 year olds.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

My children loved hearing me read this to them both. It was lovely and we have it a huge thumbs up from the 3 of us and we loved the cover too

Thank you for the review copy, Frances Lincoln Children's and NetGalley. This is beautifully illustrated story of the first Christmas. In the parochial school where I volunteer, the kids can get enough of books like this one at Christmas time. The illustrations in this book set it apart from the other books of this type they enjoy.

4★
This is an illustrated children's book of "Silent Night" the favourite old Christmas hymn (but no pictures of 'Round John Virgin' that I could find!)

The style is distinctively flat, like a collage, but there are millions of tiny details. Well, hundreds - okay, lots. Lots of details, more than I associate with works made from paper, which give the pictures a lot of background interest and should make for some good conversation with children about what the times were like back then.

The characters vary from very dark to very light and the clothing is plain, in simple colours. Except for the wise men. They're kings, and kings get the fancy cloth! There are some patterned rugs and mats, if you look for them.

The people quite obviously come from different places in the Middle East, while the angels come from around the world. They are all different colours. Even the sheep are dark brown, white, and grey. I think children will have fun trying to identify which animal is which and finding them in more than one picture. They'll enjoy finding the animals in the trees and on the roof, too.

There is an interesting history of the song at the end along with all the words.

The author illustrates each verse and then repeats the first one, giving her the chance to show different views. I have included six screenshots on my Goodreads and Amazon reviews.

This is a lovely, well-illustrated book destined to become a family treasure around the holiday season.

A lovely read for the festive season - this is a short picture book featuring the carol Silent Night, but only with the lyrics and the beautiful art it manage to bring the story to life. Great for the little ones and really enjoyable for the adults too.

Speaking from my own experience, you do not have to be religious to enjoy this book.

(I have to admit that I loved to see an accurate representation of a religious event.)

Simple yet beautiful is the best phrase to describe this book. Silent Night is the first ever carol I've ever learned, and seeing it illustrated beautifully really warms my heart. It is a perfect Christmas gift for all ages!

Celebrate the real meaning of Christmas with this beautifully illustrated book starring the world's most famous carol. This book can be read or sung as the lyrics of the song are the text and the stunning illustrations bring the words to life.

Children will have the opportunity to observe two Middle-Easterner people with dark skin named Joseph and Mary on a long and tiresome trip to Bethlehem. They are chosen by God to have the distinct privilege of giving birth to His son... the Christ child.

They along with the shepherds, the angels and the three wise-men partake in a sacred and holy night, one never seen before or since. The darkness of the night is highlighted and the contrasting settings and characters shine forth against that black backdrop. I love that. Everyone is hushed at what is transpiring and in awe that they are allowed to be a part of this Christmas miracle. The story wraps up with the words: "Sleep in heavenly peace" befitting for the most glorious night that has ever transpired.

At the end of the book the full text is provided and the history of how this beloved carol came to be. "Silent Night" is stunning and would be a perfect addition to your Christmas book collection one you can read again year after year. I highly recommend it.

“Silent Night” is one of my favorite carols and this book is a beautiful celebration of that sacred carol. With an elegant color palette and rustic styled illustrations, Silent Night’s text exists only as the words to the song and a brief history description of its popularity. I love that the people in the book presented in an ethnically correct manner (no blonde Baby Jesus) and the simplicity of the illustrations serve the simplicity of the song. I would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of this book for any kiddos or carol lovers on your Christmas gift list!

Though the words of this picture book are very familiar, the illustrations really make the story shine. I loved seeing more authentic character designs, with all the figures having darker skin tones. The style of the art was nice, too--with a whimsical, almost Assyrian vibe and soft textures within the colors.

A lovely addition to anyone's Christmas collection!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is all about the illustrations. It’s the lyrics to the traditional christmas song so the wording is probably not a surprise. The illustrations are amazing, and not just because the people are illustrated as POC instead of a white. It’s so refreshing to see that in this story. Normally Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are epictured as a white family, and here they match the story setting. Plus, I love the story of how the song came to be that is included at the end. Great job!

Wonderful illustrations! A good accompaniment to the carol and I enjoyed singing and following along with the pictures.

This little book is a gorgeously illustrated version of the familiar Christmas hymn, Silent Night. Hawthorne’s illustrations reflect a needed and more accurate vision of the Holy Family’s ethnicity. I look forward to singing and reading this with the tiny humans in my life. It’s also helpful that Hawthorne has included a short history of Silent Night and its composer for older readers. This would be a lovely Advent or Christmas gift for families celebrating the birth of Christ.

Beautiful illustrations to accompany a seasonal song. There is plenty to look at in the images. This is a warm and inviting book to share with youngsters around the holidays.

Beautifully illustrated, I never new the story behind silent night (she gives a great explanation at the end, along with full lyrics). Perfect for the time of year, I believe my younger kids will enjoy this one.

Silent Night is one of my favourite Christmas Carols, so to have the opportunity to read/sing this to my grandchildren was a happy experience. The biggest reason I liked this book more than others I have read before was the illustrations. I appreciate that the people in the scenes here are portrayed as the Middle Easterners that they were, with dark skin, rather than Americanized Caucasians that my grandchildren have grown up with. We have talked a lot in Sunday School about Mary and Joseph being refugees from the Middle East, so this presents that well. I loved the black background, it is night after all, and how the settings and characters stood out so well against it. I loved singing this to my granddaughter as she looked carefully at the illustrations. This would be a great addition to a family Christmas library as well as to any church or Sunday School resource library. This only made me love this song even more. The publisher, Lincoln Children's Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

I loved the illustrations in this picture book illustrated the beloved Christmas carol. While Mary and Joseph look more African than Jewish, the illustrations are charming, reflecting the peace of Christmas. I would eventually like to purchase my own copy, but for now I'll keep this one until it expires so I may enjoy it for this Christmas season. This was a "read now" title at NetGalley. I downloaded it with the expectation of writing an honest review. I would eventually like to purchase my own copy, but for now I'll keep this one until it expires so I may enjoy it for this Christmas season. (4.5 stars)