Jesus Is Born

K-Gr 2—This retelling uses the Gospels of Luke and Matthew in approachable text for younger readers. Beautiful and captivating soft-hued illustrations draw readers into each page. The story begins with the visit by the angel Gabriel, who lets Mary know about God's plan for her, and moves to the journey to Bethlehem with Joseph and the birth of God's only son in a stable. The shepherds are visited by angels telling them of the special birth, and three wise men arrive with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. King Herod's unease about the birth of a new king is explained to the wise men by an angel in a dream, and they make the decision to return to their home country by a different route. The holy family's escape into Egypt concludes with the hopeful words, "When he grows up, he will bring God's blessing to the world." Angels appearing in people's dreams definitively tie the threads of the Nativity tale together.