Kiwi Christmas

This New Zealand published picture book is set in today's New Zealand culture. The traditional nativity story of the birth of Jesus is retold within the context of rural Aotearoa in all its richness. The story begins in Autumn with a fantail, the angel Gabriel in disguise, arriving with a message for Mary. From the rimu table that Joseph is making, to the aurora australis and pohutukawa trees, this story is Kiwiana at its best whilst maintaining the reverence of the traditional story.

This New Zealand published picture book is set in today's New Zealand culture. The traditional nativity story of the birth of Jesus is retold within the context of rural Aotearoa in all its richness. The story begins in Autumn with a fantail, the angel Gabriel in disguise, arriving with a message for Mary. From the rimu table that Joseph is making, to the aurora australis and pohutukawa trees, this story is Kiwiana at its best whilst maintaining the reverence of the traditional story. Both the author and illustrator are multiple award winners and their combined work is both beautiful and contemporary.

One of New Zealand's best-loved writers, Joy Cowley has received many awards and honours including NZ Post Children's Book Award, the AW Reed Award for Contribution to NZ Literature, the OBE, Distinguished Companion of the NZ Order of Merit and the Prime Minister's Award for Fiction. Joy is one of NZ's most prolific spiritual writers with her 'Aotearoa Psalms', 'Psalms Down Under', 'Psalms for the Road', 'Come and See' and her 2013 'Notes to a Friend' all in worldwide demand. Her children's spiritual writing inculdes The Easter Story (2012) and Saint Grandma (2013).