As Joachim opens, day by day, the windows in an old Advent calendar, a story emerges about a little girl called Elisabet who, fifty years ago, disappeared from Norway and travelled across Europe and back through time to be present at the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. This beautiful, mysterious story has been a huge success, both for the children it was originally written for, and as an enduring Christmas seller on the adult list. It now appears in a new form designed to appeal to a younger age group. Much shorter than the original, it loses nothing of the plot, and is enhanced by delightful halftone illustrations that dance through the text, showing angels, shepherds, children, kings and all the many characters who join Elisabet on her journey to Bethlehem.
Initial thoughts: As an Advent calendar of sorts I tremendously enjoyed The Christmas Mystery. It was also fun to trace their travels on a map and seeing the trail form from the beginning to the end. Had I read this as a book in a single sitting though, I might not have liked it as much. Despite the metaficitve approach to the book, it doesn't contain all that complexity. Nonetheless, it presents some very significant historical markers in a way that is memorable to children who might hear about some events and places for the first time.
