Product Description

Sister Angie has organized the celebration of Las Posadas for many years, in which the people of Santa Fe re-enact Mary and Joseph's search for shelter on the night Jesus was born. This year's performance promises to be very special. Sister Angie's niece Lupe and Lupe's husband, Roberto, are to play the parts of Mary and Joseph. But on the night of the celebration, a snowstorm hits and Lupe and Roberto's car breaks down on their way into town. And to make matters worse, Sister Angie is home sick with the flu. It seems that only a miracle will be able to save Las Posadas.

"Another beautiful offering from dePaola . . . The artist's distinctive acrylic artwork illuminates the story and radiates its reverence and warmth."(School Library Journal, starred review)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11470 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780698119017
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Hispanic holiday customs take center stage in this exquisitely wrought story. Lupe and Roberto are to play Mary and Joseph in the Christmas pageant in their village outside Santa Fe, but their truck gives out in a snowstorm. A mysterious couple steps in at the last minute to take their places. DePaola's talent for crafting folktales is honed to near-perfection, and his pages glow with the soft sun-washed hues of the Southwest. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-Another beautiful offering from dePaola, this one tells the story of a modern-day Las Posadas procession in Santa Fe, NM. An introduction explains the background and history of the old Spanish custom, and a glossary translates the few words of Spanish used in the text. Sister Angie, who recently celebrated her 50th anniversary as a nun, has always coordinated the preparations for her village's celebration. This year, she is especially proud as her niece, Lupe, and Lupe's new husband will portray Maria and Jose. The festivities are jeopardized when Sister Angie comes down with the flu and the young couple's car breaks down in a snowstorm. A miracle occurs when a beautiful carving of Mary and Joseph, given to Sister Angie to commemorate her Golden Jubilee, comes to life to lead the village's procession. The artist's distinctive acrylic artwork, done in the colors of the Southwest, illuminate the story and radiate its reverence and warmth. There are very few books for children about Las Posadas; this one is suitable both for reading aloud to groups and sharing one-on-one.-L.F.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
An introduction describes Las Posadas, an old Spanish custom that commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. In this story, set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sister Angie, a nun for 50 years, is thrilled that her niece Lupe and Lupe's husband, Roberto, will serve as Mary and Joseph trying to find a welcoming door in Santa Fe. On the day of Las Posadas, Sister Angie is down with the flu, and Lupe and Roberto are caught in a snowstorm. Happily, a pregnant woman and her husband, riding a mule and supposedly sent by Sister Angie, save the procession. Children soon realize it is a carving of Mary and Joseph come to life that has led the procession. Because the characters are all adults and the ending is predictable (though perhaps not as predictable for children as for grownups), this may have less appeal than some of dePaola's other works. The art, too, is staid, with many pictures featuring Sister Angie, Lupe and Roberto, a priest, and Mary and Joseph. What gives the illustrations most of their appeal are the pure winter colorings, whites, purples, deep greens, and blues. Many of the spreads are illuminated by farolitos, small lights that decorate the procession route. An author's note gives some of the same information as the introduction. Ilene Cooper

Customer Reviews

The Night of Las Posadas
Mr. DePaola has outdone himself this time. All of his books are wonderful, but this Christmas story is more than that. The illustrations are pure DePaola; they are clear and colorful. The story is simple, yet for children, unpredicable. The story is set in Santa Fe and shares an Hispanic custom with the reader; the Posadas held at Christmas time. I teach a whole class of Mexican ESL students and this book is perfect for my Christmas collection of books with Hispanic characters. This book, along with other DePaola books, and others, will add to my students' enjoyment.

Excellent book for Christmas with Spanish flavor
I bought this book for our Lutheran church library. It is excellent. It tells about the Hispanic Christmas custom of Las Posadas, Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay the night of Jesus' birth. Lupe and Roberto, two townspeople, are selected to play Jose and Maria in the Las Posadas celebration, but when their pickup gets bogged down in the snow in the mountains above Santa Fe, two strangers come to play Jose and Maria instead, leaving the readers to wonder at the miraculous event --who were those two? What a lovely book.

Tomie, you never disappoint, whether your stories are religious, autobiographical, or just plain funny. Thank you for consistently sharing your talents with us lucky readers over the years. You bring us so much joy, laughter, comfort and peace!

a story to read to y our child each December
a wonderfu story with beautiful illustrations by Tomie DePaola. Share it with your children. you will both enjoy it!

Feilz Navidad!