The Stable That Bob Built

In The Stable That Bob Built, by Cindy Kenney, and illustrated by Greg Hardin and Robert Vann, the Veggie Tales characters are very excited because they are going to put on a Christmas pageant! Bob the Tomato is in charge of scene design, and he has built a stable for the performance. The book is written in rhyme, and each page builds on the one before it:

"This is the stable that Bob built.

This is the cow that mooed in the stable that Bob built.

This is the guy who didn't know how to milk the cow that mooed in the stable that Bob built ..."

What I Like: The colors are vivid, and the wording is rhythmic. In the flyleaf, there are directions for setting up a stage of your own!

What I Dislike: This book is very cute, especially for Veggie Tale fans, but it doesn't capture the true spirit of Christmas. Children are so apt to recite and trust in what they read and watch. There are little details listed about the characters that actually have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Also, the wise men are depicted at the stable, which is biblically inaccurate.

Overall Rating: Ho Hum

Age Appeal: Ages 4-8.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz,2004;ISBN: 0310704723; Hardcover, $9.99.

Buy it now at Christianbook.com for $3.99!

Check out our other reviews on Veggie Tale Books.