What’s Coming for Christmas
Illustrated by Georg Hallensleben Published September 2009
You can see it in the way the snowman’s eyes sparkle. Hear it in the voices of carolers echoing in the streets, and in the sounds of children trimming the tree. You can feel it in the warm fire dancing in the hearth. Meanwhile, the mother hen hushes her chicks, the pigs’ little tails curl in excitement, and the sheep nod knowingly as all wait in eager anticipation for a joyous Christmas surprise.
With lush illustrations as comforting as a Yule-time fire, this tender Christmas lullaby about cherished traditions and welcome surprises is sure to become an annual favorite.
Reviews
Publishers Weekly *** Starred Review
A gently thrilling reminder of all the elements that make for a celebratory season.
Kirkus
Few Christmas stories meld both the Santa and Nativity aspects of the holiday, but this effort succeeds admirably with both memorable art and a satisfying story.
School Library Journal
It is Christmastime on the farm, and both the humans and the animals are filled with anticipation. The much-awaited day comes, bringing presents under the tree and a new foal to the stable. The lovely understated text is full of sensory details, and the evocative soft-focus acrylic art strikes just the right balance between realism and wonder. This tender picture book captures both the material and the intangible elements of this special time of year. —Virginia Walter, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, CA
San Francisco Gate
The authors capture in bold colors, broad strokes and telling detail the anxious anticipation among children on a farm.
Book Page
Another charmer from author Kate Banks and illustrator Georg Hallensleben, a duo known for conjuring intimate little worlds of word and image…The book sustains its spell even beyond the last page.
Shelf Awareness
A beautiful homage to Christmas past and present.
Horn Book
In yet another successful collaboration, Banks and Hallensleben celebrate the wonders of the yuletide season.
Booklist
This joyful picture book from longtime award-winning collaborators Banks and Hallensleben builds the anticipation of the holiday season.