Boy! What with the Halloweensie Contest and Thanksgiving, it’s been awhile since we had a Perfect Picture Book Friday! And I guess this will be the last one before the holidays, since the Holiday Contest will be running by this time next week!
So what better to share today than a new holiday book? This is a sweet one I think you and your kids will enjoy!
Title: The Star In The Christmas Play
Written By: Lynne Marie
Illustrated By: Lorna Hussey
Beaming Books, October 2018, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Themes/Topics: being yourself, holidays (Christmas), finding your place
Opening: “‘I wish I were any animal but a giraffe,’ said Raffi. Instead of running toward savanna school like usual, he dragged his hooves.”
Brief Synopsis: Raffi desperately wants a part in the school Christmas play, but he’s too big to be Baby Jesus, too tall to be Joseph, too heavy to be an angel. It seems there’s no place for him at all. But his mother’s loving words to him give him an idea and in the end he finds there’s a perfect place for everyone.
Links To Resources: 30 Easy Ornaments To Make With Kids; 30 Homemade Ornaments For Kids; 10 Star Crafts For Kids
Why I Like This Book: This is a sweet story that many kids will relate to. We’ve all had moments where we don’t feel comfortable in our own skin, where we wish we were different so we’d have an easier time fitting in. Raffi the giraffe struggles with being too big, too tall, too heavy to take part in the school Christmas play. But he’s in a very nurturing environment among both adults and children who try to understand and help. In the end he comes up with his own solution which is just right and he finds a way to accept himself as the others have accepted him all along. A lovely message for any time of year, but especially nice at Christmas.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
(Oh, and I’ll give you a heads up now that I have a special extra post, last-minute scheduled for Monday for a couple of writer/illustrator friends, so please plan to stop by!)
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, What a lovely book. I haven’t seen this one yet. I am so glad you featured it. It will be the perfect addition to my Christmas collection. 🙂
It’s a very sweet one, Maria! And Lynne will be thrilled if you add it to your collection 🙂
I have many memories of participating in Christmas plays – as both a littlest angel myself, and helping my kids dress as angels and shepherds for church nativity scenes. I can’t wait to read how giraffe finds a role and gains self-esteem.
Do you know, Patricia, that I was NEVER in a Christmas play? My kids weren’t either – lots of other plays and holiday concerts – but we all missed out on this!
Sounds like a good one for the holidays. Can’t wait to see if I’ve figured out his role based on the title. What a fun idea/read no matter how he figures out how to be in the play.
I hope you enjoy it, Carole! (And I bet you’ve guessed right 🙂 )
Reminds me of those holiday Hallmark movies that I watch every year, over and over. I am a sucker for sweet holiday stories!
Me too, Keila! And I can get all teary over a Kleenex commercial 🙂
Oh, this sounds so sweet and huggable. Who doesn’t love clumsy “little” giraffes” and their efforts to fit in? It sounds like this one will rank right up there with Charlie Brown’s Christmas, something I watch annually (and listen to the music to from Thanksgiving through the New Year, if truth be told). This book is on my holiday list now. Thanks!
I think you’ll like it, Jilanne – it’s very cute! 🙂
Children will love little/big giraffe. What a sweet story with important themes kids will identify with.
I know, Pat. We’ve all had that feeling of not fitting in. It’s nice to read a book with encouragement that there’s a place for all of us!
The giraffe’s face on the cover is so cuter and I’m not even wearing my glasses! Happy ‘Adventszeit’, Susanna!
Thank you, Julie – though I feel like I should be saying gesundheit! 🙂
This book looks absolutely adorable. I’m sure we’ve all had our awkward times growing up (and as adults!), but we all have something to offer. I can’t wait to read this. The illustrations are darling, too. Thank you for sharing, Susanna!
I hope you get a chance to read it, Debora – it’s really cute!
oh, this book looks so cute – and fun to read. I am a bit late to PPBF because… I forgot yesterday was Friday!
No worries, Sue! Today can be Friday if you want… we’re pretty relaxed around here 🙂
What a beautiful book to share. So cute. Aww… I missed out on posting my PPBF book. Drat. I ‘ll save it for next year after the holiday festive season.
You can still post it, Diane – just do it now, or this coming Friday and add it to the link list on this post!