It’s time to share Children’s Christmas Books perfect for reading and gifting this season. With just two months to Christmas, I wanted to get a jump on all the new children’s Christmas books available this year. These books are great additions to your library, whether you are looking to add to your collection or maybe start your own Bookish Advent Calendar. Click HERE to see all the Christmas-themed books I’ve previously shared on the blog.
LULLABY FOR THE KING
By: Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by: Michelle Carlos
Published: October 10, 2023
Publisher: Beaming Books
Christian Fiction
It wouldn’t be a Christmas book series if I didn’t share a Christian picture book celebrating the birth of Jesus. This beautiful picture book imagines all the creatures bearing gifts on their journey to see the newborn King.
As news of the King’s birth is heard, the animals choose their gifts and begin the parade to Bethlehem on a magnificent morning “when the sun warmed the Great Salt Sea”. The animals set off to welcome the Babe in Bethlehem, from an antelope with a flask of alabaster to a donkey with strings of dates and apricot cakes to a stork with a beautiful bundle of wildflowers.
With lyrical, poetic prose and stunning illustrations, children will be mesmerized by the animals and their gifts for the King. Everyone is excited to meet the King, from the animals on the ground to the birds in the air including the crocodile who wasn’t even invited. He brings a scepter on his back to present to the King. For days the animals traveled across various deserts and wilderness until they see angels hovering above where the Babe was laid.
“Rest, sweet child from on high,
apple of your Father’s eye.
We humbly honor you, O King.
Please bless each gift we bring you.“
The end of the book includes music to play and sing “Lullaby for the King”. This is a gorgeous book to add to your collection and a calming story to read during the Christmas season.
This book has already been the recipient of many awards including:
- Book Riot 25 Best Christmas Books of All Time
- Fuse #8, “31 Days, 31 Lists, 2023 Transcendent Holiday Books”
- Kirkus Reviews starred review
- Moonbeam Children’s Book Award (Silver)
- Northern Lights Book Award, Illustration
- Shepard.com Best Christian Picture Books for Kids
- YA Book Central, Buzzworthy Book
Nikki Grimes is a New York Times-bestselling author and the recipient of the 2022 Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2020 ALAN Award, the 2017 Children’s Literature Legacy Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California. Check out her website, HERE.
Michelle Carlos is a Filipina illustrator based in Germany. Her art is largely informed by her lucid dreams, childhood memories, and global perspective based on her life abroad and travels with her husband. On Christmases away from her birthplace, Michelle makes traditional lanterns while singing carols and drinking warm tea.
To purchase a copy of LULLABY FOR THE KING, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Check out my review policy, HERE.
Posted Under African-American, Book Review, Children's books, Christian, Christmas, fiction, Michelle Carlos, Nikki Grimes