This is the newest book in the Chime Travellers series. Once again the Brady family is helping out with church clean up. They are getting everything ready for Christmas when the choir begins playing some bells during practice. When they realize that for the first time they appear to be Chime Travelling together, they find themselves on the road to Bethlehem where they meet Mary, Joseph and their donkey. This is a story that is well known to all, Christians and non-Christians alike. Of course there is a twist here with the arrival of Patrick and Katie, but the important points are all there. At one point Katie points out to Patrick that they know what happens in the story, but he states that being there makes it feel more intense. That is so true, to have been able to actually gaze on the baby Jesus would have been an experience that would not compare to anything else in your life.

Each of the books in the series uses a biblical story to teach a lesson. This one is about welcoming people who are alone in a new place and trying to make them feel welcome and less alone and scared. This would be a good book to have in a library of a Catholic or Christian School or in a library at a church. The illustrations are simple but add to the story.

I received a copy of this book from in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This is the fifth book in a series and, though I haven’t read the preceding books, it was not really necessary to my understanding of the premise that Patrick and Katie have discovered a way to travel through time to witness important religious events.

This particular event is one of the most important of all: the birth of Christ. Although these children are church-goers, and know the story well, there is a lesson they must learn about compassion and making room for those less fortunate, and how better to learn it than by witnessing Mary and Joseph being turned away from places of lodging.

I know the story well, too, and I still got all goosebumpy when the author described the children looking at the newborn Child.

The narrative flows well, and is appropriate for the intended grade level, though those at the higher end might find it a bit dull. While there is a simple conflict, there’s nothing really “exciting” about the book. It is a good way, however, to help modern children think about the religious stories they know.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Some people are bothered by people telling Bible stories in ways that aren’t exactly the way they are in the Bible—taking liberties with the history in order to tell a story. There is a little bit of sibling rivalry.

Who Might Like This Book:
People who like the Christmas story, religious stories, and scripture stories.

This review published at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2016/05/time-travel-for-christmas.html

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. ( )