Jane Seymour

Celebrated actress Jane Seymour joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and illustrator Omar Rayyan to explore the story behind the beloved Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas, in this lovely holiday picture-book and DVD. The text of the book - and the performance upon which it is based - is split between Seymour's narrative based upon and fleshing out the story in the carol, while the verses of the carol also appear, at relevant moments. In the actual performance, Seymour herself narrates the show more story elements, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing the verses of the carol. Every couple of pages there are also little inset panels, giving historical background about such topics as: St. Stephen's Day (during which the story occurs), Page Boys in Medieval Times, Medieval Castles, and Christmas Celebrations in the Middles Ages. The artwork by Omar Rayyan, who has illustrated many beautiful fairy and folk-tale retellings, depicts the pageantry and revelry of the human scenes, and the wintry beauty of the natural ones...

It has taken me some time to track down this presentation of Good King Wenceslas, which seems to have been my carol of choice this past holiday season (2018), to judge by the number of versions I have read. Many of the picture-books that I have picked up, in this vein, use the text of the carol alone for a narrative, or, if they explore the story behind the carol, include the text of the carol at the beginning or end of the book. Here, the two are intermingled, which makes sense, once you have watched the accompanying DVD, and seen how the performance itself is structured. I found Seymour's narrative (and narration) engaging, and appreciated the inclusion of the little historical asides, although, given that there is some non-fiction content here, I would have loved it if she has included a list of sources for young readers interested in learning more about Medieval Europe. The illustrations by Omar Rayyan are, as I expected, given my appreciation of his work elsewhere, just beautiful. Recommended to anyone who loves the carol, Good King Wenceslas, and is looking for an engaging, and beautifully-produced presentation of it, in picture-book form. show less

"It's a nice relaxing time to spend "visiting" Jane Seymour 'in her home'. She has a lot to show you and talk about that will inspire you to create more of yourself in your own home. The author is so charming in her books, that includes children's books based on her own family as the characters, that it is a delight to spend time "talking" to her through the book. I love her feminine approach to life. It is soft and nurturing and gracious. I will always be reading and re-reading this one as show more well as {Jane Seymour's Guide to Romantic Living.} show less

This is my first home decorating book, and I absolutely LOVE it! Filled with tips and color palettes, anyone can use Jane Seymour's suggestions for creating a more harmonious and creative atmosphere inside a home.

This was an instant hit. Even after 2 years, our child will periodically pull this from the shelf and ask us to read it. S/He loves the antics of the twins This One and That One. This is one of those stories where you can wear both pairs of paws. You'll remember what it was like when you wanted to do what the adults did, and you can also be the parent who still wishes for those stolen romantic moments.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.