Bible Stories

Travels through holy lands, stories from the manger, a whale of a tale and some beautiful music.

A Wanderer in the Wilderness

In Walking the Bible (HarperCollins, $16.99; ages 7-up), author Bruce Feiler takes the absorbing account of his Middle Eastern trek that was published under the same title for adults four years ago and revises it for the 7-and-up set. For this children's version, he concentrates on locating landmarks from some key episodes in the Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) while excising his logistical struggles and a wealth of interviews with archeologists, religious scholars, diplomats and political leaders.

As a neophyte aided by his own insightful guide, a salt-of-the-Earth Israeli archeologist, Feiler knows how to interest the uninitiated. He begins each chapter with a quote from the relevant book of the Bible, and makes the stories more immediate by conveying the light, heat and sounds of their settings. Whether Feiler is discussing Noah's Ark coming to rest on Mount Ararat or Moses parting the Red Sea, he brings in geography, etymology and archeology to underline the importance of water, stories and faith in the development of Middle East cultures. While covering physical territory from Eastern Turkey to the Sinai desert, he deftly touches on emotional hot spots of the Bible, including the excruciating order Abraham was given to sacrifice his son Isaac. There are reminders both of political realities (writing of Abraham's casting off of his other son, Ishmael, Feiler notes "the beginning of the split that still divides the world today") and of the ridiculous (Feiler notices a fire extinguisher next to what some claim to be the Burning Bush). Feiler also makes clear that he didn't walk the entire route. In about 30 minutes, he and his guide fly over the bleak desert between Israel and Egypt that for most of human history has been extremely difficult to traverse. Although Sasha Meret's many hand-drawn maps are helpful in following the various arduous biblical journeys, the black-and-white photographs aren't reproduced sharply enough. For instance, what Feiler describes as the "lighthouses" of salt around the Dead Sea show up as run-of-the-mill mounds in the photograph.

Silent Night

Three new books take different routes to Christ's manger. In Martin Waddell's Room for a Little One (Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $15.95; ages 3-7), an ox lies contentedly in his stable. One by one, animals come by to ask humbly if they might rest there. "Kind Ox" replies to each one, "There's always room for a little one here." "Tired Donkey" then appears with Mary on his back and Joseph leading him along. The five animals make room for Mary, and "that cold winter's night . . . a Little One came for the world." Jason Cockcroft's illustrations, aglow with starlight and candlelight reflected off moist eyes, offer an inviting introduction to the tale.

Also aimed at young children, Stephanie Tolan's Bartholomew's Blessing (HarperCollins, $15.99; ages 4-8) follows a mouse from his nest to the stable where, he hears, a newborn prince is going to bless the animals. He knows it's a special night when the fox doesn't pounce on him, but the magic truly arrives when the baby smiles at him from his bed of straw. "Warmth and light filled Bartholomew. . . . He felt himself grow larger. Soon he was as big as a sheep -- a donkey -- a camel." Margie Moore's illustrations are as sweet as Tolan's story, with their whimsical smiling sheep and feather-shedding angels adoring the child at center stage.

How Many Miles to Bethlehem? (Scholastic, $16.95), by Kevin Crossley-Holland, will appeal to older children through its striking artwork, language and storytelling. Each scene in this Nativity pageant features a narrator who tells of his or her part in the drama of Christ's birth, moving the tale along, revealing themselves through their succinct, sometimes lyrical turns of phrase, and introducing the next speaker. Likewise, each of Peter Malone's Renaissance-influenced tableaux is worthy of appreciative scrutiny, from the varied levels, styles and textures of Bethlehem's cityscape to the patterned fabrics on cloaks, satchels and camels' backs. Crossley-Holland, the author of wonderful Arthurian reworkings for older readers, gives nearly everyone and everything a voice: First is Mary, then the innkeeper, the ox, the donkey, the shepherds, the star of Bethlehem, the three wise men, King Herod, Jesus himself, a lamb, the shepherds again, the wise men again, and the angels, who swirl stunningly around their page. And then on the last page, a small, exquisite orb reveals their part of the world -- simultaneously from a distance and up close, with the star of Bethlehem shining bright. The text reads: "I am the light of light. The baby who will cradle the world. In your heart, hold me. I will never leave you." This book is something to behold.

Creatures Great and Small

In her series of Bible stories that also includes Daniel in the Lions' Den, Miriam and Her Brother Moses and David and Goliath, Jean Marzollo uses a lively storytelling style that has more in common with comic books than with Renaissance painting: lots of action as well as blunt speech from people, animals and God. The messages come through loud and clear -- and cleverly. In Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm) (Little, Brown, $15.99), Marzollo reveals the twists of faith that Jonah went through before he understood what God meant by "forgiving your enemies." Marzollo's illustrations, made with watercolor, Chinese ink and Adobe Photoshop, lack a handmade quality because of the computer work. But the confidently drawn figures, the bold colors and the overall design are so appealing that few readers will care. They'll be busy enough looking for the worm and for the wry comments the chorus of octopi are making on the bottom of the page.

Lift Up Your Voices

On the back of O Holy Night: Christmas With the Boys' Choir of Harlem (HarperCollins, $18.99; all ages) are some simple directions in old-fashioned, calligraphic typeface: "Listen to the singing as you enjoy the paintings. Feel the spirit." For prepackaged holiday joy, this CD-and-book combination works its share of wonders. Faith Ringgold illustrates the lyrics of five Christmas carols that the Boys' Choir of Harlem sings on the accompanying 21-minute CD. Well known for the flying figures in Tar Beach, Ringgold delivers a host of multi-culti angels soaring around these pages. While the Holy Family, the wise men and the shepherds are painted with dark skin and period clothing, the white-winged angels are men and women of various shades and styles. Bright and uplifting, with cheerful figures in front of solid-color backgrounds, the paintings do indeed offer a fitting accompaniment to the music.

As for the CD, the first selection, "Silent Night," sounds disconcertingly like a R&B ballad in the Quiet Storm mode, but the other carols are given crowd-pleasing full-choral treatments. There are trumpets, strings and cymbals galore, but best of all might be "O Holy Night" with its '50s rhythm-and-blues church setting and impressive, spirited solos. •

Abby McGanney Nolan is a freelance writer and editor.