ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH!

"Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men"
If your family is one that traditionally watches A Charlie Brown Christmas, you'll soon be hearing Linus repeat this familiar proclamation that the angels made to the shepherds out in the fields.  Linus' simple monologue is his calm response to Charlie Brown's exasperated and somewhat desperate question, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!??"

"Lights, please."

Angels play an important role in the Christmas story -- as heavenly hosts bringing to earth the Good News of Christ's birth. As children, this may have been our first remembered introduction to these winged messengers. Soon we'll be hearing (and singing) the angels' joyous words in Latin, from the chorus of Angels We Have Heard on High: "Glo-ori--a! In excelsis De-o!"

Hopefully Christmas isn't the only time children and adults consider the role of angels, and of heaven coming down and touching earth.  Many of us were brought up to believe God has given us each a Guardian Angel.  Some think that could be a scary thought to a child, but in my experience (as a child myself and then as a mother), children readily and happily accept the idea of having an Angel who watches over them.

There is a beautiful new picture book from Conciliar Press that shows the loving role a Guardian Angel plays in the life of a little child.  It would make a lovely Christmas, birthday, or baptismal gift for a young girl or boy.  What Do You Hear, Angel? is by Elizabeth Crispin Johnson, illustrated by Masha Lobastov.

Annie loves to go for walks in the woods and is accompanied by her angel.  Every time Annie encounters a woodland sound, she asks, "What do you hear, Angel?"  The angel hears corresponding praises from heaven.

"I hear a brook in the woods saying, 'Gurgle, gurgle'...
What do you hear, Angel?"

"I hear a little girl in the woods singing,  'Tra-la-la, tra-la-la!'
and I hear all the angels in heaven singing, 'Alleluia, alleluia.'"

This precious book would be a treasure for any child's library.  The illustrations are simply glowing; Marsha Lobastov is a classically educated and trained artist from Russia.  Working with oils on colored canvas, she leads you to a painted world that is pure and unspoiled.

Elizabeth Crispina Johnson's lyrical text is fun.  With joyful sounds in sequence, each new one builds on the last until at the end your child will have fun naming off all the woodland noises and heavenly songs!
This books is perfect for ages 2-7 and is available from Conciliar Press (hardback only).