Described as “stunning folktale about the Nativity, set on a chilly night in Bethlehem,” The Birds of Christmas, written by Olivia Armstrong and illustrated by Mira Miroslavova is a true delight.
Cover of The Birds of Christmas, written by Olivia Armstrong and illustrated by Mira Miroslavova
The book was a total accident. Olivia Armstrong is not an author, she’s a storyteller in the oral tradition. Originally from Northern Ireland, Olivia now lives in England, where she spins her tales in places like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. In 2019, when the BBC contacted her to record some Christmas stories, she included her retelling of an old European folktale about the birds of Christmas. In 2020, she posted the broadcast onto social media, where an editor from Starry Forrest Publishing heard it and contacted her. The publisher then reached out to Bulgarian illustrator Mira Miroslavova, a self-taught artist whose style has been deeply influenced by classic fairy tales. The book moved from Starry Forest to Eerdmans Publishing, and the result is a glorious addition to a Christmas book collection—and one that is perfect for birders.
“Long-legged Stork glided in, leading the plumed procession.”
The Birds of Christmas is the origin legend of Robin’s red breast, and the reason that the Robin is so associated with this holiday. Like The Little Drummer Boy, this story centers on the heartbreak of the least among the witnesses to the bird of the baby in Bethlehem. Others have gifts, but the smallest has nothing. In The Birds of Christmas, Raven is given the news to spread, Wren weaves a blanket of leaves and moss, Nightingale sings the baby to sleep, Stork “plucks white feathers from her plumage to make a pillow,” and Rooster crows “Christus Natus Est!”
“But instead of his usual cock-a-doodle-doo, he crowed some strange words…”
But one small bird has no gifts. The night was cold, and only a small fire had kept the stable warm, so low now it was just a tiny glow. The small bird knew what to do, fanning the flame with her wings and bringing beakfuls of twigs to feed the fire to keep Mary and the baby warm. When a hot ember landed on the bird, Mary brushed it away—and the color spread, symbolizing forever the robin’s kindness.
A nest of robins, each still marked with the colors of a brilliant flame.
For families who celebrate Christmas and who have young children (and for anyone who collects Christmas books) this book is a perfect gift. Olivia’s storytelling background makes this book a joy to read aloud, with word choices that are lyrical and precise. The warm brown palette of Mira’s illustrations drops readers from the cold of the night into the warmth of the stable. Christmas books are their own special genre, and having one that celebrates birds is its own special gift.
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The Birds of Christmas, written by Olivia Armstrong and illustrated by Mira Miroslavova
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5647-0
40 pages, ages 4-8
US $18.99
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