The Littlest Angel

by Charles Tazewell

Book Overview

More than 1 million copies sold One of the best-selling children's books of all time. First released in book form in 1946, this story has since appeared in numerous editions. It tells of a small angel... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824953320
• ISBN13: 9780824953324
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Guideposts
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

This book brings back memories for me. <3

I remember sitting on my bed and looking at the beautiful pictures in our copy of "The Littlest Angel" when I was a little girl. That book was a pop-up book. I would love to find one just like it. I am giving copies to our married children so our grandchildren can have the same happy experience I had when I was little. <3

The Littlest Angel. The Original Edition

The book is the same however the illustrator is not the original illustrator. The book said the original edition, that is a mistake.

Not The Book I Ordered

The book I received, and the condition, were not as advertised. Very disappointed as this was intentionally ordered for this version of the book to pass along to my grandchildren to continue a 5 generation family tradition.

Not as Advertised

The Book I received was not what was expected. The PIC and the description was a first edition...should have suspected when the price was low. In any case, won't order again from you as I was fooled. Fool me once shame on you...fool me twice shame on me.

Not "like new" as labeled and I am not happy at all with this purchase!! The rating was "like new"

The spine is broken. Not "like new" at all!!! Very disappointed

Not "like new" as labeled and I am not happy at all with this purchase!! The rating was "like new"

I loved the story as a child and still do today. The message is clear that love, not riches, is what the Savior wants and needs out of all of us.

The Littlest Angel

Great classic child's book for the Christmas season. Teaches that God is always more interested in the heart attitude of our gifts to Him and others than the material value of the gift. I have purchased the book for my children and for all of my grandchildren. I believe it should be in every child's library.

Littlest Angel

I bought this classic as a Christmas gift. It looks beautiful and is sure to be treasured.

What an awesome story!

I had this book as a child and loved it and now as an adult, I get even more from it reading it to my child. However, I must admit that that $10 word thing is a little over a three-year-old's head, but being a writer, I just rewrite it as I go along so he can understand the story too. The ending is just wonderful - how God chooses the Littlest Angel's gift over all the other angel's gifts to be presented to the Christ Child. Then, God turns it into the Star of Bethelehem! Pretty awesome and gives you goosebumps every single time. The jist of the story is to offer whatever you have to the Christ Child, no matter how poor it may seem or out of place to others, give of yourself. It's the same story as The Little Drummer Boy - he gave what he had, his gift of music. Great book for the holidays but be sure you read it first yourself before reading it to a younger child.

A Wonderful Christmas Tradition

I got this book as a Christmas present when I was about 6, and I loved it! My edition of the book has a crimson cover, and the little angel looks like a small blond boy in a pair of light blue footie-pyjamas. I often re-read the book until I was about 9 or 10 and moved on to more big-kid stories.Now that I am a mother (with a small blond boy who looks a lot like the angel) I've rediscovered the book. What a truly wonderful story. And, just like my mother, I end up reading the last few pages in tears!I truly don't understand the reviewers who criticized the metaphysics of the book or the "$2 words". First of all, it's a STORY -- a fable -- an allegory. Save the arguments about the origin of angels until your child is in college majoring in theology or philosophy. Main point of the book is -- you are loved as you are, and the best gift is one that is given with love and from the heart.About the "$2 words" -- how else will a child expand his vocabulary unless he encounters $2 words? Read the book as it is written, and answer the child's question when he says "Mommy, what's deportment?" It's that simple.

Classic Story of Love, Giving and Tender Humor

'The Littlest Angel' by Charles Tazewell is one of the ten best-selling children's stories of all time. There has been several published editions of this beautiful classic, but none compares to the wonderful award-winning artistry of Paul Micich. Each illustration done in alkyd on canvas. It's the classic story about a little boy angel homesick for earth that was created by Tazewell as a backup for a Screen Guild production crisis. Well, the crisis never materialized, but 'The Littlest Angel' did. The first performance was narrated by Helen Hayes for the "Manhattan at Midnight" Christmas radio show. In 1946, it was released in book form. It was also recorded on Decca records. The magazine, Coronet published it in 1949 and later produced the first film version. Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair) starred as this little angel who couldn't stay out of trouble in the celestial city in the 1969 Hallmark Hall of Fame production. The TV show featured Fred Gwynne (The Munsters, Car 54 Where Are You?), Cab Calloway and E.G. Marshall. 'The Littlest Angel' was in it's 35th print at the time of Tazewell's death in 1972. Time magazine referred to it as the "international classic." The story goes when this littlest angel arrived in the presence of the Gatekeeper he was four years and six months old. This littlest angel pretend that he wasn't impressed with his new unearthly home. It was that moment on heavenly peace wasn't quite the same. All the heavenly host didn't think he looked like an angel. His tiny halo tarnished and slipping down over his eyes or letting it fall from his head so it would roll down the golden street so he could chase it. Even his wings weren't just right. He's directed to the angel of peace. Dreading his ordeal he goes but he hears merry singing. He meets the Understanding Angel. The caring angel knew that the littlest angel was homesick and all the things he missed on earth. He asked the littlest angel what would make him happy. The cherub said it was a box he kept under his bed back home. The Understanding Angel did what he wished. From that day, the littlest angel changed for the best. It came to pass that Jesus, the Son of God was born in Bethlehem. All the glad tidings abound in paradise. All the angels prepared gifts for the Christ child. The littlest angel pondered what could he give the holy infant? His box, he thought. But it was shabby and ugly gift. But it was too late, God's hand moved over the other gifts to his little box. All the things the littlest angel ever loved on earth were there. Then God spoke. Of all the angels, I find that this small box pleases me most. It's contents are of the earth and of men and my Son is born to be king of both. These are the things my Son will love and cherish.....Suddenly the box glowed and radiantly brillant as it rose to the heavens. There it shone on the night of miracles the light reflecting the centuries by it's splendor, the lowly gift of the Littlest Angel. What all men call forever,