Mary, Mother of Jesus, by Mary Joslin and Alison Wisenfeld

TITLE: Mary, Mother of Jesus
AUTHOR: Mary Joslin
ILLUSTRATOR: Alison Wisenfeld
PUBLISHED BY: Loyola
ISBN:  978-0829413809
PURCHASE: Amazon

Mary Joslin is perhaps the second best (second to Tomie dePaola) children's book author dealing with religious subjects.  She is a fine writer, and never makes her stories to pious or didactic--rather they are filled with live and character.  In this beautiful book illustrating the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus (whose Immaculate Conception the Catholic Church celebrates today!), Mary is the one presenting the narrative herself.  It begins:

When I was a girl I lived in a plain little town called Nazareth. It stands among the hills of Galilee north of Jerusalem. I remember so well one beautiful spring. The sky was blue, the hillsides around were covered with wildflowers, and everything in my life seemed sunny. I was nearly grown up, and my family had arranged that I should marry a good man named Joseph--Joseph the carpenter.

Thus we enter into Mary's heart as she tells us her life--and brings us closer to her Son.  The watercolor illustrations by Alison Wisenfeld, are stunning in their simplicity and grace--firmly planted in the tradition of the great artists, yet fresh and new and bold in their own lovely way.

There are only 3 copies left, Amazon tells me, so be sure to grab one today.  Also, check out their other collaboration: The Good Man of Assisi