Belinda Downes (2) (1962–)

Twelve classic Christmas carols are paired with illustrator Belinda Downes' patchwork quilt fabric art in this holiday picture book. The sheet music for the carols is displayed on the left-hand-side page of every two-page spread, across from full-page illustrations depicting the subject of each carol. The carols included are: Silent Night / O Christmas Tree / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Ding Dong! Merrily on High / Away in a Manger / O Come All Ye Faithful / Angels We Have Heard on High / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Joy to the World! / Once in Royal David's City / The First Nowell / I Saw Three Ships.

Having enjoyed Belinda Downes' unique fabric artwork in Joan Aiken's picture book retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and having learned that she also worked on a Christmas carol book—Christmas carol picture books being an annual holiday reading project of mine—I was quite excited to track this title down. Unfortunately, although I did enjoy the quilted artwork in Silent Night: A Christmas Carol Sampler, as someone who doesn't read music, my "reading" experience was somewhat wanting, and I found myself wishing that the stories in the carols had been retold, even if in abbreviated form, and paired with these visuals, rather than the sheet music. That being said, I decided to peruse this brief collection while listening to each of the carols, playing it while I examined each illustration in detail. When approached this way, the book ended up providing quite a pleasant reading experience, getting me into the holiday music spirit on my lunch break. I would recommend this one primarily to those interested in fabric art and illustration, or who are looking for illustrated Christmas carol music.… (meer)