Silent Night    by Joseph Mohr & Thomas Kinkade Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2006 (2006) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson In his Introduction, the artist shares his feeling that 'the most poignant hours of the holiday season are not Christmas Day, but Christmas Eve' when 'a peaceful stillness descends from the heavens.' His paintings offer a variety of remarkable perspectives on that stillness, to accompany the beloved carol, Silent Night. The gorgeous scenes are rich in stars and wooded country surroundings, with light shining from the windows of the human habitations shown. I love a picture of deer and bunny families snuggling together on the banks of an icy stream while an owl gazes down from above - to go with 'Sleep in heavenly peace.' Another painting shows a man and a child in a horse-drawn sleigh just exiting a covered bridge. There's one where carolers gather at a village Christmas tree, while yet another painting shows a nativity scene appropriately near the church. At the back of the book are Joseph Mohr's evocative words and Franz Gruber's serene music. Silent Night is a picture book to treasure, pack carefully away every year, and bring out at bedtime on Christmas Eve to reinforce the meaning of the holiday and remember where it all began. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews