“The Christmas Bird” is a fanciful tale of compassion and the true meaning of Christmas.
One morning, Katya went to the innkeeper to deliver some eggs, and she noticed a man and a woman there who looked very tired. It was very cold outside, and the innkeeper told her that he didn’t have room for his travelers inside, so he had given them room in his barn. What an unfortunate way to spend the night. She mentioned the travelers to her mother, who shared her feelings.
Later that night, Katya heard footsteps crunching in the snow by the door. Her father opened it to see a group of shepherds standing outside. They told a miraculous tale of a newborn King and His star in the sky. Katya went to her window. The star was there, just as the shepherds had said. She wanted to take the new King a gift, too.
Early the next morning, Katya hunted through all her things. What should she take the King? She finally decided on her favorite toy, a whistle carved in the shape of a bird. She also thought her cat would make the baby smile, and her mother wrapped up a loaf of bread for the baby’s parents. She was all set to go.
As she walked, the cat got frustrated and scrambled out of her arms, running back home. Oh, well – at least she had the bread and the gift. She continued on her way, across the bridge, and encountered a reindeer who looked very hungry. She broke off a piece of the bread and fed it to the animal, but then some birds appeared. She shared the bread with everyone, reasoning that she still had the whistle, at least.
While crossing a particularly deep snow drift, the whistle slipped from her hands and was lost. She dug in the snow, and finally found it, but it didn’t work anymore. Now she had nothing to take to the King.
At last she reached the stable. She crept in and saw the Baby, with His mother and father gathered around him. She placed the whistle in His hand, and it became a real bird, singing for everyone in the barn.
When it was time for Katya to leave, the bird followed her, bringing joy and light to her way and guiding her back home.
This was a cute picture book. It was a little confusing, though – Christ was born in Israel, and the book is set in a mountainous region with trees and forests, with amenities that are more modern than His time. Regardless, it’s a sweet story and you can enjoy it with your children all through the holiday season.
(This book was published in 1996 by North=South and was illustrated by the author.)
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