The Nativity

Description

The biblical story of the Nativity is one about faith, love–and a miracle. With illustrations that are enchanting and unexpected, Julie Vivas reveals the human side to Mary’s story, beautifully imagining the Angel Gabriel delivering the news to her, the exhausting journey with Joseph to Bethlehem, and at last the deliverance of the baby Jesus.

The exact words of the Bible, Julie Vivas (illustrator of Possum Magic) has illustrated each scene of the nativity story. Initially I found the pictures rather ‘irreverent’, they are not your more traditional soft pictures.  However my husband’s enthusiasm led me to see the subtle layers drawn by the illustrator that I had previously missed.  If you look past the non-traditional pictures you note the comforting of Gabriel to Mary, the gentleness of Joseph, the immensity of people for the census, the joyfulness of the angels, the awe of the shepherds.