The friendly faces in Poole's (You Are Very Special) watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are the sunny highlight of a Christmas book that, in retelling Bible stories, reaches beyond the Nativity to focus on the broader significance of Jesus' birth for Christians. Poole occasionally takes her kid-centric language too far (e.g., God is Adam and Eve's "wonderful daddy"; "Could the Son of God really be born in such a poor, smelly place?"). Textured torn-paper backgrounds enhance the compositions. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
