William Kurelek (1927–1977)

Fun read-aloud with beautiful paintings. This book made my children and I want to visit the Canadian bush (so long as we wouldn't have to use leaves as toilet paper. My kids were not at all keen on that idea).

I'm so glad that Kurelek preserved the last days of the traditional lumber camps with his recollections and his artwork. I think this book might actually hold more for adults than for kids (like the part about the former Nazi who made fun of Kurelek for being so skinny. I'm pretty show more positive my kids didn't find that as disturbing as I did). show less

We have this on our kids shelf. I picked it up from the bookstore when I was in seminary. It bores the kids. They are too young to appreciate it but it is full of Canadian nostalgia. Young William has dreams which re-image the nativity in his contemporary Northern setting n the 1930s. These dreams provide different images of the Holy Family and those who welcome or reject them.

Canadian artist William Kurelek was very ill in 1977 when he left Canada to visit to his father's village in the Ukraine. He was looking forward to getting back to Canada and sharing with his father the photos of places and people he would know well. Unfortunately his father was also very ill and each, not wanting to inconvenience the other, was persuaded to wait before sharing. Sadly Kurelek died within the month, before the two men were able to enjoy reminiscing. The text was taken from show more letters sent to his wife while he was away. Beautifully illustrated with drawings made during the trip. show less

"This magnificent retelling of the story - making universal the meaning of Christmas - is done as only a deeply religious artist like Kurelek can. Like the great Renaissance painters who renewed the Nativity by placing it in their native Italy, Kurelek sets it in his native country, and records it in 20 magnificent paintings." - dust jacket