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All rights reserved.Text cpoyright ©1995 by Margery Wheeler Brown.
Illustrations copyright © 1995 by George Ford.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmittedin any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
e-ISBN 1-59019-146-3Library of Congress Catalog Number 95-76530
ISBN: 0-940975-53-X Hardcover edition 0-940975-54-8 Paperback edition
by Margery Wheeler Brown Illustrations by George Ford
For Cory— M. W. B.
For Wade and Cheryl Hudsonwho, with dedication and wisdom,
perform miracles evrery day.
I love you both. — G. F.
by Margery Wheeler Brown Illustrations by George Ford
here are we going, Keisha?”
“Downtown, with the Boys’ Club, Tony,to see the Christmas store windows and all the pretty decorations. Mama can’t take us ’ cause she’s got the baby, and Daddy’s working late. So we’re goingwith the club. You gotta hold my handso you don’t get lost.”
“See how bright the stars are, Tony?That’s the way they were when Jesuswas born.”
“Tell me ’bout Jesus, Keisha.”
“He was a good man who liveda long time ago.”
“What did he do?”
“He loved everybody.”
“Us, too?”
“Yup.”
“Why’s the church all lit up, Keisha?It’s not Sunday.”
“It’s the night before Christmas, Tony.Christmas isn’t just Santa Claus. It’s Jesus’ birthday and people come to church to pray. See, in front of thechurch—that’s a statue of Jesus and Mary, his mother.”
“Like Mama and the baby!”
“Yup.”
“Why’s Jesus in that funny little house?”
“That’s where Jesus was born. Weren’t any hospitals then, like Mama went towhen she had the baby.”
“Why are all those animals in there?”
“It’s a stable, where animals stay. That’sthe only place Joseph and Mary couldfi nd when it was time for Jesus to beborn. Remember when we got evictedand Daddy couldn’t fi nd any place for us to stay?”
“Yup.”
“What are those people singing about?”
“They’re singing Christmas carols—about Jesus.”
“Can we sing, too?”
“You don’t know the words.”
“I’ll just say,‘Jesus, little baby Jesus,like my baby brother.’ ”
“Why are people putting moneyin Santa Claus’s basket?”
“They’re giving money to poor peoplewho don’t have anything.”
“Can we put some money in his basket?”
“Mama gave us three dollars to spend.You want to put one in the basket?”
“Yup.”
“Why they have a star on top of that tree?”
“ ’Cause the shepherds taking care of their sheep saw a real bright star overthe place where Jesus was born.”
“Can we get a star for our tree?”
“It might cost too much.We only have two dollars.”
“Look, Keisha! The lady let me have it for just one dollar. It’s the last one she had. We’re lucky.”
“Keisha, when Jesus was a baby,did he have toys to play with?”
“He had presents, Tony.”
“Three wise men were so glad he was born, they traveled a long wayto bring him gifts.”
“What did they give him?”
“One gave him gold—that’s like money;one gave hin myrrh—like oil to rub onhis skin and make him feel good; and one gave him frankincense to make himsmell good.”
“The baby has oil to make himfeel good, and powder to make him smell good, but he doesn’t haveany money. We got one dollarleft. Can we give it to the baby?”
“Yup.”
“Everybody’s so friendly tonight,Keisha, like they’re happy.”
“That’s how Christmas makes you feel,Tony.”
“You know what I wish, Keisha?”
“What?”
“I wish Jesus had a birthdayevery day—don’t you?”
“Yup.”
About the Author
Margery Wheeler Brown grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of Spelman College. She was an art instuctor at Spelmanas well as in the public school systems in Durham, North Carolina;Atlanta, Georgia; and Newark, New Jersey. Ms. Brown is the authorof AFRO-BETS® Books of Shapes and AFRO-BETS® Book of Colors, bothavailable through Just Us Books. She has also written and/orillustrated That Ruby; Yesterday I Climbed a Mountain; and The Second Stone.
Ms. Brown has retired from teaching, but she continues to write andillustrate. She lives in East Orange, New Jersey.
About the Illustrator
George Ford has been described as having “the capacity of capturingthe character of Black people in his art.” A quote aptly suited to the winner of the fi rst Coretta Scott King Award for illustration and the illustrator of over two dozen children’s books incliuding: GoodMorning Baby; Good Night Baby; AFRO-BETS® First Book About Africa;Bright Eyes, Brown Skin; and Jamal’s Busy Day, which are currentlyavailable through Just Us Books. He has also illustrated titles byEloise Greenfi eld, Valerie Flournoy, and Nikki Giovanni.
Mr. Ford lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and daughter.
