Best Children's Christmas Picture Books of 2008

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou was composed and read by the poet for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. in 2005. Now, Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem is available in picture book format, with dramatic mixed media paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem: The Poem

Angelou's poem focuses on Christmas as a time of joy and hope, a time in which "The world is encouraged to come away from rancor. / Come the way of friendship." The book comes with a companion CD of Maya Angelou reading Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem: The Illustrations

The illustrations complement the poem as they show a family coming together one evening with others in their community of many different faiths and races, coming together in search of, and in celebration of, peace. The artwork captures not only the atmosphere of a snowy winter's evening at Christmas, but the feelings of love and hope and peace that are reflected in faces of the men, women, and children who have gathered together. The paintings, which are done in oil, acrylic, and fabric on canvas are muted, yet striking.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem: My Recommendation

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem is a book that I recommend be read, listened to, shared, and discussed as a family. Compare prices.(Schwartz & Wade Books, An Imprint of Random House Children's Books, 2008. ISBN: 9780375841507)