Cricket at the Manger

Fine's language is magical. She's included sensory details, universal feelings, humor, and strong characterization in the form of her cranky cricket in the stable that night. Her unique rendition of this age-old story is a "must" for holiday gifts for children; adults will love it, too. Winslow Pels's illustrations are stunning, right down to the donkey's eyelashes.

A grumpy little cricket just wants to sleep but there is no peace in the stable and the bright star is shinning in his eyes. "Such light. Such Noise. Is there no peace?" Just when he thinks he has found some quiet, Mary and Joseph arrive with a noisy donkey and then visitors arrive. A shepherd girl scoops up the cricket and holds him high above the crowd so he can see the baby in the manger. Once he has a view he becomes interested in the angels and manger scene. He is so impressed that he decides to sing a song for the baby Jesus, only he can't quite manage more than a "Gar-Reech" because that has been his tune for so long. Finally he manages to create a "Chirrr-rup Chirrr-rup" and feels he has become part of the celebration. Winslow Pels' illustrations fill each page with seasonal beauty in subtle shades of blues, reds and brown with sand-tone backgrounds. Edith Hope Fine's words dance and jump from the page in cricket sounds mingling with the tale of Jesus' birth. A memorable story with a change in perspective near the end. It shows children that things are not always as they appear and miracles can even be found in seeming chaos. ~The Rebecca Review