As part of my church’s Christmas outreach, we are participating in something called the Holiday Walk. Scheduled on the day after Thanksgiving, this town-wide event draws a big crowd and includes a visit from Santa and fireworks. On our church corner, the festivities include a living nativity, a light show and, this year, a special interactive reading of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD, with storytelling props made by our Sunday School pre-k – 3rd graders.
Here’s a snapshot of one of the props we made today. Next week we will make spiders and number cards and the younger class will make stars and shepherds.
Last Sunday, to introduce the project to my first through third graders, I read the book, along with the passage from Luke that inspired it. I also shared with them that stories are a great way to share our faith and the reason I know Jesus today is because someone shared the Christmas story with me when I was six years old! And that because of that, Christmas is now a favorite time of year for me.
Indeed, Christmas is so special to me, that I have written not just one, but TWO, picture books about it: GOODNIGHT, MANGER and HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. Over the years I’ve also written many poems about Christmas, all of which point to Jesus as the real gift of Christmas.
When I shared with the kids that I had been writing since I was their age and asked any of them if they like to write or draw, every hand shot up! That inspired a challenge. “Who here would like to write their own retelling of the Christmas story to share with others and point them to Jesus?” Again, many hands went up, but two hearts really got the writing bug. How do I know?
I know because this morning two young ladies, a first grader and a third grader, came to church very excited to share with me the Christmas stories that they wrote on their own time last week. And now, in the hopes of getting you excited for Christmas as well, here they are. I hope they’re warm your hearts as much as they warmed mine.
Christmas as told by a first grader:
And now, as told by a third grader:
What’s your favorite bit from each? (I’ll tell you mine after I hear yours.) Happy Monday!
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Laura Sassi Tales 
I love how you are influencing kids! Those are great retellings!
They are sweet retellings. I asked the girls if they wanted to read them to the class and each said, “Yes!” The No way hozay! made me laugh.
I love “No way Hozay!” And “the innkeeper mumbled” …..an earthly king’s anger and an inn keeper’s embarrassment captured beautifully. Plus I love the passion each child brought to their story. Thanks for sharing. This made me remember my own childlike wonder and amazement at the power of God’s love.
Yes, it reminds me of my childhood wonder as well. I also love the line “they relied on the Lord, as they should”. So precious. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.
How wonderful that you are inspiring kids this way, Laura! I think they both write very well for their ages! My favorite part of the first one was “No way Ho Zay” 😊 I couldn’t quite read the end of the second one, but I was tickled by “We’ll take it!” 😊 Thank you for sharing with us!
I think they are great writers, too. All that dialogue! And I agree that Mary’s quick response, “We’ll take it!” is adorable.