Mary and Her Miracle: The Christmas Story Retold

Refreshingly in this short book, Mary the mother of Jesus takes on three dimensions. Using wit, imagination and the essence of the Luke Gospel story, Barbara Crafton weaves detail into the heretofore threadbare picture of Mary, the young Jewish girl who said Yes to God's amazing plan. Characters familiar and new give depth and humor to this tale that is as easy on the ear as it is on the eye. Dianne Robbins illustrations are simple and tender. Mary and Her Miracle is appealing on three levels: to be read privately, read in a story-telling setting or becoming one of a family's bedtime story traditions during Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas. I highly recommend it!

With tenderness that characterizes all her writing, Barbara Crafton, a writer and spiritual leader, beloved by many around the world has created a wonderful gift for all of us this Christmastide. In this delightful retelling of the story of Mary, Barbara tags themes of faithfulness and hope, of joy and peace, of good humor and cheer even in times of great uncertainness and fear. The picture of Mary is iconic in a way that transcends tradition, inspiring us as the story of a very young girl, who moves through the surprising intrusion of the sacred into her ordinary life to become one of the most cherished characters of all time. A light humorous touch gives the story just the right combination of truthfulness, mysticism, and earthy grit. (Readers will love the depiction of Mary's cousin, Elizabeth.) This book will become a classic to be treasured year after year.