- Ondrea Keigh
- Dec 6, 2024
- 3 min read
This sweet children’s book is an adorable take on the story of baby Jesus. It tells of Humphrey, the camel who carried the treasures the wise men delivered to baby Jesus. As this young camel goes through what he feels is an unbearable challenge, he learns humility through a simple encounter that changes him to his core.
Review
Probably one of the cutest and heartwarming versions of the story of baby Jesus, this short children’s book is sure to make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings. From the hilarious illustrations (and the comedic relevancy of the main character's name) to the camel’s ultimate encounter with the King of kings, Humphrey’s first Christmas is an excellent addition to any holiday collection!
My favorite thing about this book is the ending. I won’t give it away, but the author does a great job of clearly showing how Humphrey’s mind changes, and his humility is prompted by a special interaction with a special someone. In my opinion, the way the beginning and end are written is a great way to show children what it means to have a humble view of ourselves and show the main character’s development. But this book’s ending would not have been nearly as great if it weren’t for the fantastic illustrations that tell Humphrey’s story with humor and bright colors! With each image capturing your attention down to the smallest details, the art drives the story forward as we feel Humphrey’s struggles progress from page to page. By the time you get to the end, you really understand how deeply Humphrey is changed by his unique encounter!
With the holiday season here, this book might be just what your collection needs! Let’s see what our family reviewers thought of this cute story!
Family Reviews
Kate and Josiah
Kate gave this book three stars, saying she “appreciated a different take on the Christmas story.” When asked why, she responded, “Because it's nice to read a new Christmas book.”
Kate's son Josiah wasn’t as much of a fan of this book, giving it two hearts. Though his younger brother Elijah liked the “Horsey’s” (I think he is referring to the camels).
Emily, Christine, and Peter
Emily gave this book three stars, saying, “The illustrations are adorable! I loved the camel’s expressions, they really added to the story.”
Her daughter Christine seemed to agree with her mom, giving this book three hearts, saying she “liked how the camel gave away his blanket” because “He felt warm because he gave away his blanket to baby Jesus.”
Peter also gave this book three hearts, saying he “liked the silly faces of the camel because they were silly!”
Alyssa, Chandler, and JJ
Alyssa gave this book five stars, saying that her favorite things about it were the “Illustrations and moral of story!” and explaining that the “Illustrations are beautiful and hilarious!!!”
Chandler also loved this book, giving it five hearts and explaining that her favorite parts were “The baby and the nose part about the camel.”
JJ also loved the book, sharing that his favorite parts were “Beebee (baby) and doggie (camel) and the nose.”
Alyssa ended her review by explaining that both Chandler and JJ were “laughing so much!”
Thank you, family reviewers, for sharing your thoughts on this book! Readers, I will see you next year! Have a wonderful holiday season!