Christmas Lullaby - Softcover

Stefano Vitale grew up in Italy and studied in Venice and Verona before coming to the U.S. His work has appeared in national magazines and many works for children. He lives in New York.

Gr. 2-5. Simple as a lullaby and lovely as a carol, this picture book shows the animals bringing gifts to Baby Jesus in the stable. Beginning with "The donkey brought hay for the Baby's bed, / the lamb brought fleece to pillow His head" and ending with, "Then, to a chorus of moos, baas, and peeps, / the cat and her kittens purred Him to sleep," Jewell's verse will charm young listeners with its satisfying rhymed couplets. The artist's technique of painting in oils on wood shows great sensitivity to the medium. At times, the paints are mere tints, highlighting the grains of the wood to suggest clouds in the darkening sky, while in other areas, the paint is more opaque, adding beauty and depth to the wooden canvas. Vitale uses line, color, and composition to achieve many different effects within the same basic setting. An appealing Christmas book that will soothe young children without putting their significant elders to sleep. Carolyn Phelan