e-mail: Jesus@Bethlehem by Hilary Robinson illustrated by Anthony Lewis

 

If Jesus were born today, how would everyone receive the news? By satellite? Via the World Wide Web? On a mobile phone? By e-mail? This original picture book looks at the changes in technology and communication since the birth of Jesus.

This book was published in 1999 but it really has stood the test of time. The only tiny details adults might notice are the slightly old fashioned television sets and the way the mobile phones have small antennas. And of course we now write email not e-mail. 

This book could be a good conversation starter about technology and the way it is changed over time (social media) and the communications technology that is explored in this book and the way it is used  to share the story of the birth of Jesus. I can even imagine this book being used as the basis of a church sermon perhaps at a Children's Christmas service. 

The library where I borrowed this book still use date due slips. I was quite delighted to see this book has been borrowed many, many times every Christmas since it was first purchased in 2001. There are many used copies of this book still available for very low prices so if the idea of this book appeals to you it should be fairly easy to find a copy (I like to use Better World Books) or it might still be in a school or local library. 

Here is part of the text:

"Let's imagine that Jesus was born today. The shepherds hear the good news on their mobile phones. Then hot off the printing presses ... Later, on television, everyone sees a new flash. ... And via a satellite, in the night time sky, the three kings hear the news. ... The kings travel by private jet. (Camel Airlines), ... And every country sings out to the sound of the Band of Angels with their new big hit."

I really love the final page which shows children with Christmas presents labelled with words such as caring, peace, love, compassion, honesty, sharing, thoughtfulness, kindness, compassion and giving. 

Anthony Lewis is the illustrator of the famous Robert Munsch book  Love you forever.