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Have you seen Christmas? by Vicki Howie. Pub Bible Reading Fellowship, pp30, ISBN 978 1 84101 512 5, £6.99

A child once said Do I have to go to church at Christmas? I know the story. My response was Yes, you are different this year from last. Each year as Christmas approaches those of us who cherish the specialness of the season anticipate the enjoyment of sharing it. A certain anxiety can creep into the minds of those charged with children's ministry. What angle can we take this year? What fresh approach might there be? Publishers, well aware of this, offer a glitzy selection. Parents and grandparents are spoiled for choice. But, how to choose could mean a long perch on a step-stool in the local bookshop.

Before this bundle arrived I had intended to review them with our children and hope no-one minded starting Christmas in October. The chocolate money is already in the supermarket. However, I have several dilemmas about deciding what to share with other peoples children.

First, what is credible? Does that matter? There is the well-trodden path of contriving to find the true meaning of Christmas. This is usually presented in a play with a search and various characters being asked. I think this is how Have you seen Christmas? was first published. It is now recast with dog and children in snow-filled urban setting. The spin is that the dog is lost and called Christmas. His owner is homeless. After the children search for Christmas in expensive shop with quarrelling children in the toy department, in a sumptuously decorated city square, Jamie (who was a friendly vicar in the original) invites them into the church hall where the nativity story is told and food is shared. The homeless, unconvincingly young and therefore unlikely, boy/man is brought home so Christmas comes to their home too.

What's Christmas? by Alexa Tewsbury. Pub CWR, pp32, ISBN 978 1 85345 389 2, £4.99

To purchase this book from the CWR Website click here

In slightly similar vein What's Christmas? asks a young polar bear of a series of animals, Rudolph not included, who reply in picture bubbles till she has it all made clear to her by a boy and can tell the old polar bear that Its the Kings birthday who replies Most of all, Christmas is love. Gods love. The baby King is His Son. Second, is it true? Does that matter? Another clichéd approach is to retell the nativity story from the perspective of one of the characters who might have been present e.g. the mouse in the stable.

Leahs Christmas Story by Margaret Bateson-Hill. Pub Lion Childrens, pp28, ISBN 978 0 7459 4997 0, £9.99

Leahs Christmas story is told about the innkeepers young daughter. The jewel-coloured pictures are engaging. We hear her mother has died and she is helping everyone, which of course includes Mary. Fortunately she is asleep at the moments when gynaecological details might intrude. The final picture shows her with fingers entwined with baby Jesus.

The fourth wise man by Mary Joslin. Pub Lion Childrens, pp28, ISBN 978 0 7459 4930 7, £9.99

Third, did it really happen? Does that matter? A French legend tells of The Fourth Wise Man. As the other three bring costly gifts he frets till he reaches the stable and then is inspired to offer the star reflection in a pot of water. Again rich colours are used and further tricky words. What do we mean when we describe Jesus as the King of Heaven and is this suitable for infant school children?

My very first Christmas by Lois Rock. Pub Lion Childrens, pp128, ISBN 978 0 7459 4919 2, £9.99

Fourth, does the understanding age fit the picture age? The My very first Christmas, stories for the very young, is appealing. However the first sentence had me bemused The flowers bobbed and curtsied as the Angel Gabriel passed by. Because we get to keep the books reviewed I had to read further and the rest is told simply and clearly. Included in the book are several of the old stories associated with Christmas such as Baboushka [their spelling], Good King Wenceslas and the Fourth Wise Man again. Rudolph doesn't make it.

Behind the scenes Christmas by Su Box. Pub Scripture Union, pp 29, ISBN 184427 190 0, £5.99

Finally, what are the facts? Does that matter? Behind the Scenes Christmas sets out to put the record straight. The cover suggests the same younger primary age but the density of content would stretch some adults. This is aimed directly at the young reader who likes to pore over information. The central picture and bible paraphrase, with reference, on each spread have side columns for information about and interpretation of the passage. Spot on for a lone older child in a wide age-range group.

Perhaps what really matters in the choice of book is not so much the content as the relationship between the reader and listeners. Can we, with integrity, read the words in a tone that fizzes with the awe and wonder of Christmas? On that basis our junior church could enjoy all these books. Our first grandchild is due in December. I'm already anticipating enjoying books and starlit walks, remembering the story together, and sharing a handful of chocolate money.

RJ