A Christmas follow-up to the NYTimes Bestselling book, The Littlest Pilgrim.
Max wants to be the star in his class's Christmas play. And he is the star . . . of Bethlehem. Upset with his small part, Max tries to help by painting scenery or singing with the chorus, but those are not his jobs. The day of the play finally arrives, and when the light shines on Max--and Max alone--he realizes just how big his part is!
Synopsis
Max wants to be the star in his class's Christmas play. And he is the star . . . of Bethlehem. Upset with his small part, Max tries to help by painting scenery or singing with the chorus, but those are not his jobs. The day of the play finally arrives, and when the light shines on Max--and Max alone--he realizes just how big his part is!
Children's Literature
The holiday season has arrived and Max's class is going to put on a play. Even though he is the smallest child in the class, he still dreams of being the star of the show. When his wish comes true quite literally (his role is the star of Bethlehem), Max can't hide his disappointment. While everyone else practices songs, makes costumes, and learns their lines, Max hovers on the sidelines. His attempts to "help" the others with their roles further highlights how very small his own part is. Caring adults attempt to offer comfort, but Max refuses to be consoled. Only when his moment in the spotlight finally arrives does Max realize just how important his part really is. Amidst cheers and smiles, Max discovers the true meaning of the Christmas story. Re??ek's bright palette and gentle illustrations capture the innocence of childhood, and Max's expressive face vividly portrays his emotional journey from frustration to joy. Although this variation on the familiar "no small parts, only small actors" theme uses a Biblical story as its foundation, the overarching message is more about being true to oneself. Reviewer: Leah Hanson
About the Author, Brandi Dougherty
Brandi Dougherty is the author of the New York Times best-selling picture book The Littlest Pilgrim and two middle-grade novels, The Valentine’s Day Disaster and The Friendship Experiment. She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her new puppy, Jerome. Visit her online at www.brandidougherty.com.
Sanja Rescek has illustrated many books for children including the Sweetheart Fairies series and The Littlest Christmas Star. She lives in Croatia.
The holiday season has arrived and Max's class is going to put on a play. Even though he is the smallest child in the class, he still dreams of being the star of the show. When his wish comes true quite literally (his role is the star of Bethlehem), Max can't hide his disappointment. While everyone else practices songs, makes costumes, and learns their lines, Max hovers on the sidelines. His attempts to "help" the others with their roles further highlights how very small his own part is. Caring adults attempt to offer comfort, but Max refuses to be consoled. Only when his moment in the spotlight finally arrives does Max realize just how important his part really is. Amidst cheers and smiles, Max discovers the true meaning of the Christmas story. Re??ek's bright palette and gentle illustrations capture the innocence of childhood, and Max's expressive face vividly portrays his emotional journey from frustration to joy. Although this variation on the familiar "no small parts, only small actors" theme uses a Biblical story as its foundation, the overarching message is more about being true to oneself. Reviewer: Leah Hanson
