Where Jesus Slept Children's Book {Review and Giveaway}

We had the great opportunity to receive the new children's book Where Jesus Slept by Norma Lewis, thanks to FlyBy Promotions. I have to admit, I am having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that Christmas is just a little over a month away. Where did the year go? But, I have to admit, this was a sweet book to begin thinking about the Christmas season with. Let's take a look at it.

About the book:

"This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept." From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers young and not-so-young of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the delightful illustrations and the engaging repetition in this cumulative tale.

About the author and illustrator: 

Norma Lewis is the author of ten books. She lives in Grand Haven, MI, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty.

Illustrated by Katy Hudson

Our thoughts on Where Jesus Slept:

If you know the story of "This is the House that Jack Built" you will understand what is meant by this story being a cumulative tale. However, the book actually has an introduction before getting into this repetitive, rhythmic tale. In fact, I loved that the book both began and ended with a Bible verse.

Here is the opening Bible verse.

Then the story opens with a view of the stable with the city of Bethlehem in the distance. The story starts with, "Long, long ago, in a city called Bethlehem, a very special baby was born..."

We then move in for a close up of the manger in the stable as we begin the cumulative tale, "This is the BED where JESUS slept. This is the STRAW that lined the BED where JESUS slept." As each new item or character is introduced, we zoom out a bit more. Each word that names the new element is in capital letters, and they remain that way throughout the story. 

We see all these different elements as they are introduced, except for baby Jesus who isn't pictured until the page that states, "This is the CHILD all swaddle tight born to MARY there in the STABLE that sheltered the COW that shared the STRAW that lined the BED where JESUS slept." After that we move out to the fields where the angel is spreading the news to the shepherds. The star is then introduced as shining bright above the shepherd. Which allows the author to then introduce the Wise Men who are following the light of that heavenly star. The story culminates with the Wise Men giving Jesus their gifts, then we get to see all the people surrounding Jesus in the manger, just like a Nativity scene. 

And of course, there is the concluding Bible verse.

I love that the Bible verses are so prominent. We see the importance of Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah, being born because of God's love for the world. 

I will say, this book follows the traditional tale Jesus being born in a stable and visited by the shepherds and the Wise Men on the same night, though this may not be quite historically accurate. Of course, most children's books of the Christmas story do tell the tale this way, which doesn't bother me, and it does give me the opportunity to share with the children that things might not have taken place quite this way. 

This is a lovely book. The text is in large font, and I already mentioned the word for the each element being all in capital letters. I really appreciated the emphasis of the capital letters, and the boldness of the rest of the font. The rhythmic text was fun to read. Katy Hudson's illustrations are beautiful. This is definitely a book I can recommend, one I am sure you would love to have to read to your children at Christmastime. 

Where Jesus Slept is a 32 page, hardcover book that retails for $16.99. It is appropriate for preschool and early elementary aged children (approx 4-7 years old).  All of my children enjoyed the book, and they are 4, 6, 8, and 9 years old.

Time for a giveaway!

Great news! I have been given the opportunity to offer a giveaway for one person to win their own copy of Where Jesus Slept written by Norma Lewis, and illustrated by Katy Hudson.

All you need to do is enter in the Rafflecopter form below. 

There are only 2 simple mandatory entries, with the remainder of the entries being optional. 

Remember, you do not have to do the extra entries, but they will increase your odds of winning. 

This giveaway is open to Continental US residents 18 and over. 

The giveaway runs November 17th through November 25th.

Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

 By entering the giveaway, you understand and agree that your contact information will be shared with the sponsor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Disclosure: I received a hardcover copy of  Where Jesus Slept in exchange for my honest review. No further compensation was given. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and feel will be a good products for my readers.