Book review: “The Christmas Light”

This children's book, “The Christmas Light” by Claudia Cangilla McAdam, is a fictional story of the birth of Christ on Christmas, told from the perspective of the daughter of the inn keeper who loaned the Holy Family his stable in the town of Bethlehem. 

The daughter's name is Seraphina and she cannot fall asleep. She is trying to sleep with her siblings in the loft of the family's home which doubles as an inn. Downstairs are groups of people who have come to Bethlehem for the Roman census. Seraphina feels as though something major is going to happen that night. She is restless and sneaks downstairs and notices her father at the door talking to a man and a very pregnant woman on a donkey looking for a place to stay and for the woman who is the Blessed Virgin Mary to have a first born child.  

Seraphina hears her father say that the inn is full, but he could offer them his stable cave which was across the road from the inn. The Holy Family takes the inn keepers offer and goes and settles into the stable. Jesus is born and Seraphina looks out her door at the stable and hears the cry of the baby. She knows the place is dark and cold. She takes an oil lamp to Joseph who is able to light a fire and warm up the space for his family. Mary invites Seraphina to come see her newborn son. Seraphina offers her mantle to the baby to stay warm. She touches the baby Jesus and feels a warmth radiating from him and she wonders who is this newborn boy.  

She now knows that something very important has happened in her family's stable. This something changes her life, and she becomes loving with her siblings who had previously annoyed her. At the end of the book is a portion of the Gospel of Luke from the English Standard Version. A discussion and activities guide to the book is provided with a free online address. On top of McAdam's webpage, one will find the word “resources,” click on that and scroll down to this book and request a pdf file for this guide. The guide has a maze, a coloring page, a cross word puzzle and discussion questions.  

The book has very wonderful and very bright colors in its illustrations by Igor Kovyar. McAdams is the author of several children's and young adult's books. She and her family were extras in the popular series, “The Chosen.” This book is highly recommended to parents, grandparents and others who have children to read to. 

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.