The Birds of Christmas

PreS-Gr 3–Raven is flying home in Bethlehem when a voice tells him that a child has been born this night and that he must go and tell all of the other birds. Raven takes on this duty and visits Wren, Nightingale, and Rooster, who attempts to do his normal cock-a-doodle-do, but instead crows in Latin that “Christ is born!” Each bird says they will bring the child a gift; as Raven goes to the child, Stork beats him there to bring soft feathers for the child’s pillow. A small bird who says she has nothing to give finds that her strength is enough—she fans the flames of the fire to keep the child warm on this cold night. A small, red ember lands on the bird’s chest, and from then on, birds like her are called robins. This gentle book reminds children that they are enough of a gift themselves on Christmas. Hand-drawn illustrations guide readers through the night with calming winter tones and beautiful bursts of red and orange. This is a gentler take on the origin lore of robins, as they are traditionally associated with Christ’s blood, not his birth.