The Very First Christmas (PB)

Is the Christmas story simply told—or faithfully remembered?

On a quiet winter evening, young Christopher asks a question many children eventually voice: Did the first Christmas really happen? His mother invites him to see the story as it has been given in Scripture—rooted in real events, real people, and God’s saving work in history.

As they read and reflect together, the familiar scenes of Bethlehem come into focus with fresh clarity. Mary receives the angel’s message in faith. Joseph carries out his calling with quiet resolve. Shepherds hear the good news and go in haste. In time, Wise Men arrive to worship the child born for the world.

With careful attention to the biblical account, Paul L. Maier—respected historian and Gold Medallion Award–winning author—presents the Nativity not as legend, but as history that bears the promise of salvation.

The Very First Christmas is well suited for families, classrooms, and congregations seeking to pass on the faith with clarity and confidence:

• Anchors the Christmas story in the witness of Scripture and the events of history
• Engages children’s honest questions with thoughtful, trustworthy answers
• Clarifies details often misunderstood in traditional retellings
• Features realistic, reverent illustrations that invite careful attention

For children beginning to ask deeper questions—and for the adults guiding them—this book offers a faithful way to speak about Christ’s birth: not only as a cherished story, but as the true account of God entering the world for us.