Author Olivia Armstrong, a professional storyteller of folktales, folklore, myths, and legends, draws on her expertise in these genres and her imagination to narrate The Birds of Christmas, a tale about the night of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem in which various birds bring their gifts and abilities to honor the Christ Child.
On a frosty December night when Raven stays out late and is flying over the sleeping town of Bethlehem, he is startled by “a glorious golden gleam spreading like honey.” Suddenly, he hears a voice: “A child has been born. He is the Prince of Peace. Go now, Raven, and tell the other birds.”
Raven obeys, waking up Wren and sharing the news. Wren immediately desires to bring a gift to the Christ Child and begins to weave leaves and moss into a soft blanket for the baby. When Raven awakens Nightingale, the bird offers to sing a sweet lullaby to the baby. Next, Rooster, already awake, proclaims at Raven’s news, “Christus Natus Est!” The chickens listen with delight because Rooster has never spoken Latin before or declared, “Christ is born!”
Raven continues to announce the birth of the Christ Child, and suddenly “the sky filled with the flapping and clapping of wings. From fields and forests, bushes and briars, reeds and rushes, rivers and lakes, in flew the birds” to the small stable where the Christ Child lay.
As each bird offers a gift to the baby, a tiny bird sits in the corner watching the display of generosity and thinks, “I have nothing to give.” But, surprisingly, even the small fowl contributes to Mary and the Christ Child and is given an unexpected badge.
Illustrator Mira Miroslavova’s charming, earthy artwork and author Olivia Armstrong’s creative tale capture the wonder of the night of Jesus’ birth and the delightful array of birds exalting the Lord as commanded in Psalm 148:1,10: “Praise the Lord from the earth … flying birds.” (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers)