The Little Drummer Girl An Unexpected Christmas Story by Sheila Walsh

My thoughts: This is another story about the every recurring Christmas time nativity pageant at church. A little girl really wants to be the star of the show (as she sees it) - the angel proclaiming the birth of the Christ Child. But she auditions and isn't selected. Instead she is chosen to be the little drummer girl.

Though disappointed, she does her part and does it well. And in so doing she learns that the new born babe is really a king and that she is doing her part for The King. 
Precious illustrations are a little reminiscent of books from the 1940s and 1950s but still capture the essence of today's life. Bright. Joyful. Full of life illustrations capture the vibe of the story and the activities surrounding Christmas and Christmas pageants.

The rhyming, story-telling text isn't quite poetry and yet it is a bit more than poetic prose. Works very well as a read-aloud story.

About the book: Isabella loves to dance and sing, so when she sees auditions posted for the Christmas pageant at church, she dreams of landing the perfect part--the Christmas angel with a sparkling halo, flowing white robe, and her very own wings.

But things don't go quite as planned. She does get a part. The little drummer . . . girl? Drummers don't wear sparkling halos, flowing white robes, or wings! Will this be the most disappointing Christmas ever?

Filled with witty rhymes and whimsical illustrations, The Little Drummer Girl helps children ages 3 to 5 understand how an awful day can turn into the greatest day of all. This unique telling of the Christmas story from the perspective of a little girl delivers an entertaining message of hope, humor, and the power of God's love, as shown through his gift of Jesus--not just at Christmas but every day.

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy as part of the Librarything.com Early Reviewers Program.