The Little Drummer Boy

by Ezra Jack Keats

Book Overview

A procession travels to Bethlehem, bringing gifts for the newborn baby Jesus. The little drummer boy comes along, although he is too poor to bring a present fit for a king. Instead, he plays a song on his drum for the Christ Child. Within the little drummer boy's seemingly simple gift lies the true spirit of Christmas. Ezra Jack Keats' vivid, jewel-toned artwork perfectly illustrates this classic holiday carol. Music for the song appears at...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140567437
• ISBN13: 9780140567434
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.8" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

The quality of the book I received was not good.

The story is cute but the book is barely acceptable quality.

Love it! Love it!

This book is wonderful! My 2 and 4 year old daughters made me read it to them every evening during the season. They learned the words and are still singing it. Ordered the book for my neices and nephews. If you know the song, then you know how beautiful the message it.

A Christmas Classic

This book's exotic pictures and mesmerizing tune holds my son's attention through several reads. Although the age recommendation is for older children, I think you'll find that younger children (my son's 23 months) enjoy the rhythm and the pictures enough to make it an instant favorite. I also appreciate that beloved Christmas personalities are depicted with darker skin and clothing that is not Western.

great book!

We like all of Keats' books, they are simple, yet powerful. This one is wonderful and not just for Christmas!! We read it at the library and had to buy a copy!

Sing it, Baby!

The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats is a beautifully illustrated book with the words to the popular Christmas song. Each page contains only one or two lines of the song and so is perfect for younger children. The song is about a little boy who is told to bring a gift for the birth of Jesus, but he replies "Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy, too" and so he plays his drum for him instead. This is a simple story about giving from the heart. Singing the words is a perfect way to interest a reluctant child in books and also perfect to coax reluctant dads (or mums) to sing to their children. The music is written out at the end of the story if you aren't familiar with the tune but it would be easier to listen out for it at Christmas. This book is one the most requested in our household and, of course, we sing it all year long.