The Animals Speak: A Christmas Eve Legend

A fresh retelling of a Christmas legend, told through joyful song by the first witnesses to the baby in the manger: the animals.

Long ago and even today, the story is told of how all the animals in the world, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, speak. With their newfound power of speech, the animals rejoice at the birth of Jesus, born humbly in a manger and surrounded by animals. Singing in treetops, braying in stables, barking in yards--the animals all rejoice and proclaim, "The Child is come."

With rich illustrations and lyrical text, Newbery Honor Award-winner Marion Dane Bauer delights readers of all ages with this fresh telling of a classic Christmas legend.

Marion Dane Bauer was born in Oglesby, Illinois, and currently resides in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. She is the author of more than 100 books, which range from board books, picture books, and early readers--both fiction and non-fiction--to novels for middle grade and young adults. Her books on writing are used by both young writers and adults.

She has won numerous awards, including an American Library Association Newbery Honor Award for her novel On My Honor. Her most recent publications are the picture books Winter Dance, illustrated by Richard Jones, published by HMH, and The Stuff of Stars, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, published by Candlewick.

Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Her books have been published in more than a dozen languages.

Brittany Baugus is a children's illustrator from Atlanta, Georgia. She currently enjoys spending her days concepting and creating colorful, textured, and story-driven illustrations. Inspiration for Brittany's work comes from her fascination with nature, animals, and animated films.