A young girl from Nazareth named Miriam and her best friend, a goat named Naomi, become traveling companions to the village carpenter, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, as they travel to Bethlehem. The daughter of the soon-to-be parents’ neighbors, Miriam is a kind and generous girl who takes great care of her beloved goat and is always thinking of others, and she is excited for the adventure of helping Mary.
On the long and difficult journey, Miriam shows many kindnesses to Mary, often sacrificing her own comfort to make sure the expectant woman is cared for. Her benevolence does not go unnoticed when, on the day Mary gives birth, the girl is praised by an angel who arrives to welcome Jesus, the baby who will grow up to share his love and compassion with the world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Each year, during Christmastime, people celebrate and retell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary, a virgin and soon-to-be mother, and her husband Joseph leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem, where they take shelter in a stable because the inn is full. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus and was soon afterward visited by three wise men. Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is a lovely story that has some elements from the famed traditional tale, but adds unique elements such as the inclusion of a young girl, Miriam, and her goat, Naomi. In this rendition, Joseph and Mary take Miriam and Naomi with them to Bethlehem to be “counted.” They were to be Mary’s aides. Miriam’s mom worried for her young child taking this trip, but the child’s father had a dream that their child should go. Many religious individuals make life choices based on dreams or visions, so Miriam’s father foreseeing his daughter’s trip was religiously plausible. She might be young, but she and her goat proved very helpful on the journey, especially when they reached their destination: Bethlehem.
No wise men followed a bright star, leading them to the manager. However, the stars led Joseph, Mary, and Miriam to the outskirts of the city. In this story, the travelers also found no available rooms, so, like the famous religious tale, the innkeeper said they could stay in the stables. In this story, the innkeeper offered to send his sister to assist with the delivery. A beautiful baby was born and placed in a manager, where a biblical visitor visited them. Again, not a wiseman.
The illustrations in Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story are truly captivating. Each scene is a visual masterpiece, making readers feel like they are walking alongside the characters through the Jordan River Valley and across the rocky terrain or staring down at the city lights. The city lights were a lovely touch, bringing so much life to the scene. The newborn baby and its visitor, bathed in glowing light, were also quite lovely.
Amazon’s suggested reading age for Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is 3-8 years. While some words (ex., Micah’s prophecy, Ephrathah, and roused) might need explaining to preschoolers, kids of all ages can love the illustrations. Naomi, the helpful goat, was adorable and quite the show stealer!
Share the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ with your family or class this holiday season! Show how one small child and her beloved goat took great care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Encourage your kids and class to lend a helping hand to others.
Heart Rating System:
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Score: ❤❤❤❤
Meet the Author
Children’s author Peggy Dudarchik has always loved to write but it was a spiritual retreat that inspired her to write her debut picture book. Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is a unique telling of the well-known journey of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
On the spiritual retreat Peggy was asked to visualize Mary and Joseph on the ninety-mile journey to Bethlehem. This was the spark that led Peggy to research what that ten-day trip would have looked like for the parents of Jesus based on the geography and archaeology of Israel at that time, how families lived, and the architecture and clothing. These accuracies are integrated into Peggy’s story about a young girl, Miriam, and her beloved goat, Naomi, who assisted the parents-to-be during their trek.
Peggy believes a great book is one about good people who are faced with a challenge and overcome obstacles to achieve a goal. She hopes her young readers come away from her story with an appreciation for this difficult historical journey and a love of the characters and reading that stays with them long after the book is closed.
When she isn’t writing, Peggy enjoys reading, cooking, and entertaining friends and family. Her love of children’s books was stoked after her now adult son was born, with countless trips to the library and a bedtime reading ritual bringing them both a joy that she later carried into her own writing. Peggy’s picture book experience has been a family affair, with valuable input coming from her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. She lives in Manlius, New York, with her husband and their crazy Cairn Terrier, Izzy.
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