My father once said that he painted what he saw with his eyes and felt with his heart, and for me, this is very much what he did with this book —the last of his 60-year-long career, illustrating over 80 children’s picture books. 

This book is primarily based on the Biblical story of the Nativity. However, as Brian had a very vivid imagination, he decided to give the story a very child-friendly twist, with equally child-friendly illustrations. His aim was always to communicate the importance of respect, compassion, and kindness, while exposing children to beauty —an attribute in itself that he considered essential to their visual literacy and personal development. He wanted, in his words, ‘To help children climb the mountain of life and reach the peak of enlightenment and fulfilment. This is the basic right of every child born on our Earth.’

Brian chose to start the story with a beautiful illustration of the Annunciation. One can see much warmth and tenderness in his depiction of Mary, who is sitting on a little wooden bench with a happy, smiling tabby cat on her knees and a friendly looking dog, lying by her feet. He even added bowls of water and food for the two animals, that can be seen on the floor near by. Mary is looking over her shoulder at the Archangel Gabriel who is carrying a long branch of beautiful white lilies, signifying purity, in one of his hands, as he kneels to announce to Mary that she will be having a son. He then tells her that her son’s name will be Jesus and that he will be the Son of God. 

Turning to the next page, Mary and Joseph are about to head off on a long journey to Bethlehem. Just before they leave with their donkey, Mary thanks her neighbor for kindly looking after her cat and dog whilst they are away and hands them over.

However, very soon afterwards, missing Mary very much, the cat and dog decide to run away to try and find her and a charming adventure is revealed upon turning to the next and all the following pages.

I would like to leave an element of surprise for all who acquire this appealing and touching version of the Nativity story, partly told from the pet’s point of view and I hope both young and old will love this very beautiful and colorful Nativity book.

Christmas Memories

I am Brian’s second daughter and now live in the south-east of France, in a Medieval village, near where my parents lived for 45 years.

As a child in London, where my family lived, I would spend hours sitting at the end of my father’s long work table, watching him create his amazing illustrations. I was fascinated seeing the illustrations, little by little take form, exploding with colour, imagination, and beauty. On these occasions, my father would always tell me, when I was very young, “Rebecca, no talking while I’m painting, as I have to really concentrate. If you have any questions, you can ask me later on.” Of course, there always were questions later on!… Why this? Why that? Why didn’t you do this? Why didn’t you do that? He would always be patient and explain his answers with gentleness, encouragement and humility whilst, at the same time, teaching me the morals and ethics of living a righteous life.  

This passion for watching him work continued throughout my adult life whenever I visited my parents, and I will never forget these memories.

The best Christmas memory and present from my father happened in 1989. I was visiting my parents with my baby daughter from London, where we were living, for the festivities. On Christmas day, with the whole family assembled in our sitting room, around the Christmas tree and the crib, my mother had made many years before, my father handed me a present. I opened it up and there was his recently published book, A Christmas Story, which I knew he had been illustrating earlier that year but had no idea about his planned surprise for me. 

I opened the book and, from the first page, knew he had given this very famous story a childlike twist. I turned to the next page and to my great surprise, he’d named the little girl who was part of the twist, Rebecca. I carried on throughout the book, enchanted by the storyline and illustrations. I got to the last page, and there I see a dedication: For little Ornella. The name I had given my daughter! I was over the moon, hugging and thanking my dad, saying how touched I was.

He then really made me laugh, as he said, ‘Thank goodness she was born on time, and you didn’t take too long in naming her, otherwise it would have been too late to send the ‘Ornella’ dedication off, due to the printing deadline!

All that definitely made it my best Christmas! Many thanks again, Dad! XxX

Get this new edition of The Road to Bethlehem, written and illustrated by my father, Brian Wildsmith (1930 – 2016) that has recently been beautifully published by Sophia Institute Press. Sophia Institute Press will, one by one, publish five more of my father’s religious books: Saint Francis, Joseph, Moses, Mary, and, finally, Jesus. To learn more about my father and his life’s works, please visit www.brianwildsmith.com.

This Guest Post was written by Rebecca Wildsmith.