BETHLEHEM, by Fiona French. Ignatius Press (San Francisco, 2004). 24 pp.

Reviewed by Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 12/2/04)

Bethlehem is a book sure to be treasured by children and their parents, especially during the Christmas season. Inspired by stained-glass windows, which were originally designed to tell stories, illustrator Fiona French has put together a book that can be enjoyed for years.

The book about the beginnings of the Holy Family is best to be enjoyed as a family. The dazzling colors of the stained-glass inspired illustrations will easily capture the attention of a young child while a parent or older sibling reads the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the first Christmas.

With text taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, the story is certainly Biblically sound, but might be the beginning of a vocabulary lesson for young readers. With words like "decree," "enrolled" and "betrothed," it may take some time before young children advance from enjoying the colorful pictures to reading the book on their own.

However, the illustrations offer an opportunity for a lesson on colors as well as faith.

Angels are created from vibrant mosaics of yellow, red, purple and blue shapes. The Virgin Mary is shrouded in brilliant blues throughout. Joseph and the shepherds are depicted as more "ordinary" looking with shades of brown and other earth tones, with the three wise men from the East being more regal looking in colorful costumes.

Bethlehem is a good supplement to assembling a nativity scene — a way to tell the story of Christmas through Sacred Liturgy in a way that children can easily see and enjoy.

To order visit www.ignatius.com.