The Nativity, Mary Remembers
Author > Laurie Knowlton
Illustrator > Kasi Kubiak
Boyd's Mills Press, 1998

From the book jacket: The Story of Christ's birth is the essence of the worldwide celebration known as Christmas. Resonating beyond the giftwrap and glitter, the joyous true meaning of the holiday shines through in this inspiring version of the Nativity story as remembered by Mary. Laurie Knowlton's lovely and sensitive retelling views the first Christmas through the eyes of the mother of Jesus as she undertakes the long journey to Bethlehem where, in a crude stable, Jesus Christ is born. Glorious paintings by Kasi Kubiak capture the rejoicing of angels, shepherds, and kings as they welcome their Savior into the world.

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Silent Night: A Christmas Carol is Born
Author > Maureen Brett Hooper
Illustrator > Kasi Kubiak
Boyd's Mills Press, 2001

From the book jacket: One of the world's most inspiring Christmas carols had its humble beginnings in a small village near Salzburg, Austria. Just before Christmas at St. Nicholas church in Oberndorf, organist Franz Gruber prepared to practice. But, instead of beautiful music, out came a terrible wheeze. Dampness had damaged the organ bellows. A Christmas Eve service with no organ music was unimaginable. On that Austrian eve in 1818, Father Joseph Mohr was preparing for the Christmas mass. As his thoughts filled with the first Christmas, he remembered a simple poem he'd written years ago. Father Mohr shared his poem with Gruber. Would the words be suited for a song accompanied by guitar?
Maureen Brett Hooper provides a charming account of how the universally loved carol "Silent Night, Holy Night" was born, while Kasi Kubiak's soft oil paintings capture the magic of that holy night long ago.

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