First Christmas

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is told by Zeke, Joseph's faithful and hardworking donkey. Zeke spins his tale in playful verse, telling of the events that lead up to the wonderous moment of the birth of baby Jesus. As he tells us at the end of his story,

"'Twas a night to remember, I'll never forget,
When Jesus the Christ child and I first met."

First Christmas is beautifully illustrated by Adel Nasief, an accomplished Coptic Christian artist who lives and works in Alexandria, Egypt. His twenty-one iconic paintings bring the story alive as never before, giving Zeke's poetic narrative both depth and dignity.

First Christmas will delight adults and children alike. It is the perfect story for families to share each Christmas; the perfect story to read to children before they go to bed on Christmas Eve; the perfect story to remind us all of the real meaning of Christmas.

Beautifully printed with a fifth color gold throughout, with a cloth hardcover with a hand-tipped image and foil stamping and written in anapestic tetrameter - the same upbeat, and rhyming rhythm of "The Night Before Christmas" and much of the poetry of Dr. Seuss - First Christmas is destined to become an instant Christmas classic.

Almost 25 years ago, author Alastair Macdonald went looking for a picture book telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ to read to his children. Not finding exactly what he wanted, he decided to tell the story in his own words for children and families. He lives with his family in Bermuda and looks forward to the day when he can read First Christmas to his grandchildren.