‘The Friendly Beasts’ a Beautiful Christmas Book

Reading Christmas books is as much a part of the season’s traditions as hanging ornaments, baking cookies and getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve. So, I am always looking for new ones to add to our family library. None can rival the original Christmas story, but they do add to the festivities and enhance family time.

Illustrator Tara Larsen Chang brings a traditional 12^th-century French Christmas song to life in her inviting rendition of “The Friendly Beasts,” a children’s picture book featured on the Big Universe website. Although the text is old, the pictures are charming and bring the words to life. In this tender story, a donkey, cow, sheep and camel bring gifts to a special baby, expressing the art of giving in their own unique way.

Ms. Chang is a gifted artist, sharing a creative bent that has been with her since childhood. “From my earliest memories I’ve been captivated by the illustrations in fairy tales and children’s books,” she says on her website. “And (I) couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do when I was grown up than create my own.”

 (You can see additional samples of her work on her website.)

Burl Ives sang the words in this book on his 1952 album “Christmas Day in the Morning.” Other singers have recorded the song, including Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Sufjan Stevens and Garth Brooks.

Twin Sisters Productions also offers the following Christmas stories/songs on Big Universe:

• “Up on the Housetop” with illustrations by Wendy Edelson.
• “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” with illustrations by Andrea Gabriel.
• “Happy Birthday Jesus” with illustrations by Tara Larsen Chang.
• “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with illustrations by Dorothy Stot.
• “Down Through the Chimney” with illustrations by R.W. Alley.

 Merry Christmas. May there be many books under your tree this year!