★★★★★ 5
Insightful Iteration of the Christmas Story, Minus the European Lens
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
Premise
Birth of the Chosen One is a picture book adaptation of the birth of Jesus, with text taken from the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. This translation was overseen by Terry M. Wildman, in collaboration with an intertribal committee of First Nations Americans. I recommend checking out the website to learn more about this beautiful project, and checking out the clip of the First Nations version of The Lord’s Prayer.
A quick disclaimer: Although I am multitribal Indigenous American, I am not well-acquainted with the culture. As I struggled a bit to write this review, I shared the story with my mom, who is much more familiar with our culture. To my observation, my mom found the book to be beautiful and moving.
Storytelling
The story of Jesus’ birth, attested to in Scripture, is often filtered through a European lens. So often, nativity portrayals depict lightly complected versions of Mary and Joseph– an incongruous incarnation of their middle-Eastern heritage. Renaissance artwork was, I believe, instrumental in forming these pictures within the western imagination.
Birth of the Chosen One tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the lens of Indigenous American storytelling. I’m so grateful for this portrayal, which offers representation to young Indigenous readers, while also affording those of other backgrounds insight into a different culture.
Translation of Proper Nouns
One of the most striking elements that distinguishes this translation of the Christmas story from more common English translations is the translations of the names. While reading the story to myself, I was a bit perplexed by some of the names (Mary, for example, is known as Bitter Tears). In sharing the story with my mom, however, she pointed me to the Hebrew origins of the familiar names we read in the Christmas story.
I learned from my mom that one meaning of Mary is, indeed, “bitter,” and we also learned from the story that Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” As my mom pointed out, this is a very powerful truth, since Jesus describes Himself as the “Bread of Life.”
Throughout the story, these translated names bring new meaning to the birth of Jesus. It was eye-opening to see how much of the story is missed, with Anglicized names that don’t mean as much to the average reader as they would have meant to the Ancient Hebrew/Jew.
Helpfully, the Author’s Note at the end of the story offers a list of corresponding Anglicized / translated names and locations.
Narrative Rendering
Just as the translated nouns bring fresh meaning to the familiar account of Christmas, the narrative also draws out the truth of Jesus’ coming in a way that is both powerful and meaning-ful. Jesus Himself spoke in stories, and I am personally a huge fan of allegory. For me, the different style presented the sweet simplicity of the truth of the Gospel, with refreshing novelty. The words of Jesus’ birth, so familiar to me, take on new meaning with different stylistic presentation.
My favorite passage in the story comes from the mouth of Creator’s Chosen One (the angel Gabriel). He tells Bitter Tears, “He will set people free from their bad hearts and broken ways.” I consider the phrase “bad hearts and broken ways” to be a more meaning-ful iteration of the concept of sin. And, the Gospel itself is referred to as “the good story,” which I considered to be a beautiful (and once again, more powerful) descriptor.
Illustrations
Hannah and Holly Buchanan render the story of Jesus’ birth in lively colors, with images that bring First Nations culture to life. The twin sisters are completing PhDs in art history, and the Indigenous characters are depicted in traditional attire. While I don’t have the vocabulary to describe all of the details, I do really like seeing the Nativity presented in this way– with characters portrayed in a more relatable way.
Readers who are not First Nations have the opportunity to visit Bethlehem, the House of Bread, in a new way, rather than in the style and coloration of European art.
The following elements stood out to me:
Use of sweet, colorful wildflowers– both in the meadow landscape and as a decorative vine/garland
Jesus’ star is portrayed as hugely illuminating and BRILLIANT, with the size and radiance of a sun
The characters’ faces are expressive. Bitter Tears often appears solemn or thoughtful. The Seekers of Wisdom blend thoughtfulness and hope. Chief Looks Brave (Herod) appears as a stony-faced background silhouette. (I found this stylistic choice to be especially effective).
Content / Discussion Note
On the page about the heavenly chorus, the text describes “a great number of spirit warriors.” The illustration includes the single “spirit-warrior,” portrayed as a man with eagle feathers and an eagle headress– alongside other eagles. My hesitation here is that the spirit-warriors / angels are being depicted as eagles. The book of Ezekiel, however, does describe certain supernatural beings with aquiline characteristics.
Recommendation Status
Birth of the Chosen One is an important Christmas story because it removes the Western lens through which many of us have been taught to read the nativity. The direct translations from the original Hebrew language are eye-opening and offer much-needed context.
I would consider myself well-acquainted with the Christmas story, and I learned from this book. I’m also so happy for the representation offered in Birth of the Chosen One. Recommended for readers of all ages, regardless of cultural background.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2024
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