Legend has it that animals can speak for one hour on Christmas Eve. If this is true, what would the animals in the barn have said on that first Christmas Eve?
In her 2022 Moonbeam Award-winning book Bethlehem Barn, Debra Westgate-Silva gives young audiences a lighthearted retelling of the classic Christmas story — from the animals’ point of view.
“The story was inspired by a church service I attended several years ago when a minister mentioned an ancient legend that for one hour on Christmas Eve, animals are given the gift of speech,” Westgate-Silva said.
She immediately began envisioning different possibilities for a children’s story. What would the animals have said on that very first Christmas Eve? How would the cow have felt when she realized a baby was in her food trough? How would the animals know who the baby was?
As the quirky animals came to life in Westgate-Silva’s imagination, so did the message she wanted to convey.
“My goal was to create a fun story that children would want to read over and over that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving, caring and community,” Westgate-Silva said.
With soft, beautiful artwork and a delightful animal cast, Bethlehem Barn is geared toward children ages 4-8 and delivers a fun read that entertains while teaching the foundational Christmas story.
Hear the inspiration behind this story today on Connections!