A mother tells the story of the birth of a miraculous child, "long ago, on a silent night," in this lovely Christmas picture-book, relating it to the recent birth of her own dear child. The poetic narrative from author Julie Berry and luminous artwork from illustrator Annie Won alternates between that ancient family and their story, and the welcome given to this new child in the current day...

It has certainly been my experience, and I suspect many others' as well, that the powerful stories and ideas of my religion - in my case, Christianity - have had the most meaning and strength for me when seen through the light of my own experience. It is hard to conceive, for instance, of the idea of God's love, if one has not experienced it through human love of some kind. Apparently this is the case also with Julie Berry, who wrote this book for her son, whose birth caused her to reflect more deeply on the Nativity Story, which she had always loved. I appreciated her beautiful language, and the ways in which she tied two families so far apart in time, but perhaps not that far apart in essential emotional experience. Annie Won's accompanying illustrations are lovely, capturing the sacred enchantment of the Holy Family, and the beauty of their modern counterpart, here a mixed race couple welcoming their baby child. Long Ago, On a Silent Night is not really a retelling of the Nativity Story as such - in fact, it relies upon the reader being familiar with that story. Rather, it is a reflection upon that story, experienced through a modern mother's reactions to her own baby. Recommended to anyone looking for beautiful and somewhat different picture-books about the Christmas story, and the welcoming of the Christ Child through our love of our children today. ( )