Sun Moon Star

i read about this book while reading “pity the writer” and picked this up out of curiosity. might be my favorite take on the nativity story.

I knew the history of this book and I enjoyed it when it arrived. I gave it to my wife, who didn't know the history. She started reading, then she went to the introduction to figure out what this was supposed to be. After that, she told me this is one of the sweetest stories she's ever read.This isn't a children's book, even though it looks like one. Children will be able to follow along, though. Great literature disguised as a trifle.

It took Ivan Chermayeff's passing this week to bring this book to my attention. It is, quite simply, a gem. Vonnegut takes the time to ponder what our understanding of the Trinity is: one Being in three distinct aspects. For Creator to take on human form is a process of decision (didn't need to), and discovery. The result is imagined experience that does not, fittingly enough, ever take a "God's-Eye" view of the action. There is just enough allusion to the action outside the newborn's sphere to give us context to the "sun," "moon" and "star" perceived by those young eyes. Readers who are disturbed by Vonnegut's use of the pronoun "It" when referring to the baby should take a breath and remember that he is not talking about Jesus, the human, but the Creator's experience of the world through Jesus' eyes. Simple and beautiful writing, and the illustrations are an outstanding example of Chermayeff's work.

Very Vonnegut. For that matter, very Chermayeff, if you're familiar with his style (NBC, PBS logos). It's an interesting take on the story of the birth of Jesus, told from the point of view of baby Jesus. The book speaks of "The Creator of the Universe," born as a human infant, and refers only to "the Creator." The word "Jesus" does not appear. The baby is presented as a very human baby, without divine omniscience. I wouldn't say that it's especially religious. We're Jewish, and I feel that I could present it to my young kids as a story that has little to do with Jesus -- as they don't know the Christian story to begin with.This book is only supported on kindles or kindle apps that display color photos -- wouldn't even download on my "regular" Kindle. Dock one star for that, but highly recommend if you have a tablet.

This is a real departure from what we usually expect from the late Mr. Vonnegut. It is a children's book in which KV reveals his own version of the story of the birth of Christ. It is charming and the illustrations by Ivan Chermayeff compliment the text quite nicely. This is not the biblical version, but KV's personal viewpoint. At times his language is a bit mature for a children's book, but it is still a delight, especially if an adult is reading it to the child and can explain what some of the words and phrases mean. That makes it a very nice opportunity for conversation between parent and child.It is, as seems inevitable when KV is involved, a bit quirky, but that only adds to the charm of the book. It is a pleasant surprise from the posthumous archive left behind by KV when he died. As always, he is still full of surprises.

Nice book. More for older children

The book came in beautiful condition and in time to be wrapped. I forgot how much I love it.

Lots of good christmas poems show up on Christmas Eve often repeats - said so often they are judged safe even for uptight worshippers. This one was new to me and great to read aloud at the Christmas Eve service. So often we forget it's a birthday after all, no matter how the story comes out in the end. Imagined sights to a newborn Christ are both plausible and subtly foreshadowed.

First things first - this is a very short book, a picture book, told very simply. I say this because anyone expecting something else might be rather disappointed. This is not typical Vonnegut.That said - this is completely charming. There's something very moving about this baby point-of-view, and more so because this is about a creator becoming the created. Though the story, such as it is, is insubstantial, it is told rather beautifully in its simplicity.It's not really a children's book, but one that would be good to read to/with children.Not the easiest book to review: not much here in the way of plot!I was curious, and took a chance for ninety nine pence, and you know what? I'm glad I did,