These thirty tales depict the young life of Jesus in legend. The author goes back to the beginning, before Jesus was born, through his life as a baby and a young boy, and on up to his appearance in the Temple. This progression tells the story in a new way, acting as a complement to the New Testament narrative where there is only sparse information about Jesus' childhood.

This young Jesus is not the curly-headed child with a halo that we have come to expect: he is more like the boy next door. Even Mary is not quite the sort of lady who would expect our "Ave Marias", – although she is clearly deserving of them. The author's aim is to make the stories and the characters real and identifiable for young readers. "I think my Christchild," says Christina Sewell, "is all the better for being human."

Ideal for prize-givings and gifts, this book brings the story of Christ to life. The stories are illustrated with high-quality line drawings, which, by their detached and decorative nature, make the book suitable for adult readers as well as children.

   List of Contents » (PDF, 11 KB)

   Preface » (PDF, 11 KB)
   Story 15: The Legend of the Holly Tree » (PDF, 13 KB)
   Story 28: A Present for Mary » (PDF, 15 KB)

Christina Sewell was born in Aberavon. She was taken to Australia at the age of three, later reading English at the University of Adelaide. Her poems – by which she sets most store – were published under the name of Mary Christina St John, which name she formally adopted before moving to England, where she taught in London infant schools prior to marrying. She lived in Brighton, with her husband, cat, and a huge collection of dolls, teddy bears and doll's houses.