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Christmas is practical for teaching nativity

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Are you looking for that perfect book to share the real meaning of Christmas with your child? You may want to add a new book to your collection of old standards. Here are some choices I enjoyed this year.

For small children there is “Room for a Little One,” written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. This is a sweet nativity story for the very young.

The pictures are like beautiful paintings, and small children will enjoy the animals and their tender feelings for the baby Jesus.

You can create a nativity scene your small child can play with. Take a toilet paper roll for each character. Draw a face on and wrap it in felt, fabric scraps or construction paper for the clothes. Use a basket or cardboard box for the stable and gather some dried grass clippings for the straw. Young children love to play out the nativity story over and over.

“Angela and the Baby Jesus” is an Irish story about a child who takes the baby out of the cold nativity scene set up at church so she can warm the baby Jesus up. It is written by Frank McCourt and illustrated by Raul Colon. The main character faces the wrath of the grownups to do what she feels is right.

Take your children to visit a few outdoor nativity scenes. The public ones are best where the children can approach the pieces and touch them. You might then want to visit a live nativity with real animals.

Do you want to share the joy of giving this Christmas? “Great Joy,” written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, is about a Christmas pageant and an organ grinder and a monkey. The child in the story has great compassion and caring for the homeless old man and his little animal shivering in the cold.

You might want to help your children participate in a giving project this year. You can take food to a food pantry, let them choose toys for a toy drive, or give them the chance to earn extra money to donate to a worthy cause.

For older children (and children from the older generation) “It's a Wonderful Life for Kids” is a nostalgic take-off on the movie “It's a Wonderful Life.” Tommy Bailey learns the value of his own life while helping an angel earn his wings in the familiar town of Bedford Falls. It is written by Jimmy Hawkins who played the part of 4-year-old Tommy Bailey in the classic film of 1946. It was illustrated by Douglas B. Jones, who manages to capture the original look of the film.

You can make a special present for your child to assure them that you value their life. Gather some pictures and mementos from your child's life and make a simple scrapbook for them to keep. You and other family members can write messages in the book to share appreciation for this child's life. You can go all out or just put a few construction paper pages together with yarn. The old adage really is true - it is the thought that counts.

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