New ideas about an often-told story are conveyed through Mathers' freshly conceived paintings accompanying Farber's often profound, sometimes playful poems. The poet expands the cast of onlookers at The Manger in poems with titles such as "Ladybug," "Camel," "Sloth," and "Turtle Toward Bethlehem." In a striking double-page spread, a veritable peaceable kingdom of beasts hurries to be there, too. Most memorable midst the visitors are the three queens who "... came late, but not too late / to see the animals small and great, feathered and furred, domestic and wild, / gathered to gaze at a mother and child..." Farber's understanding of the drama within the Christmas Story and Mather's superb use of color are linked by a crisp, handsome page layout and design to make an exquisite 11 1/4" by 8 3/4" volume. (Age 9 and older)