An earthly host of creatures heralds the arrival of a special baby born in a manger in this beautifully realized volume. Rooster and sheep, cat and mouse, wren, owl, spider and others all bear witness to the baby and the joy. Even fish weigh in (“Despite / the world’s / sudden glee / we cannot leave / our home — the sea …”). Lee Bennett Hopkins’s picture book anthology features the work of fourteen poets who each offer the perspective of a different animal. Helen Cann’s lovely illustrations — each painting carefully composed and yet part of a larger whole — are the perfect complement to the words of this seasonal treasure. (Ages 3–10)