Silent Night. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: FORMAT 32 pages 280 x 210mm (P) Cased

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1 A N N O D O M I N I P U B L I S H I N G FORMAT 32 pages 280 x 210mm (P) Cased AUTHOR Vicki Howie has written children s plays, songs, mimes, crafts and stories. She runs workshops on children s evangelism and lives in the south of England with her husband and two teenage children. ILLUSTRATOR Krisztina Kállai Nagy trained as a graphic designer before starting her own design and illustration business. She particularly likes illustrating Bibles stories and lives in Budapest, Hungary, with her husband and young daughter. Silent Night This is the beautiful story of the mice that inspired the writing and singing of the famous song Silent Night. Imaginatively told by Vicki Howie and illustrated by Hungarian born Krisztina Kállai Nagy, this book will delight young children. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: info@ad-publishing.com

2 SILENT NIGHT b y Vi c k i H o w i e i l l u s t r a t e d b y K r i s z t i n a K á l l a i N a g y

3 by Vicki Howie For James and Olivia Howie Vicki Howie With much love to Bori Krisztina Kállai Nagy SILENT NIGHT illustrated by Krisztina Kállai Nagy

4 by Vicki Howie For James and Olivia Howie Vicki Howie With much love to Bori Krisztina Kállai Nagy SILENT NIGHT illustrated by Krisztina Kállai Nagy

5 by Vicki Howie For James and Olivia Howie Vicki Howie With much love to Bori Krisztina Kállai Nagy SILENT NIGHT illustrated by Krisztina Kállai Nagy

6 LLong ago, inside a dusty hole, hidden in the Church of St Nicholas, that stood in the village of Oberndorf, beside a river that rushed helter-skelter through a land of music and mountains and snow called Austria, there lived a large family of mice. 4 5

7 The church mice were very badly behaved. Whenever the church was quiet, they had an absolute riot! They chased each other up and down the pulpit. They swung on the bell ropes and frayed the ends. Worst of all, they nibbled here and nibbled there until there were holes in skirting boards, kneelers and choir robes EVERYWHERE! But whenever Franz Gruber, the organist and choirmaster, played his rousing music on the church organ, the mice went scampering back to their mouse hole, shaking with fright. Organ music sounds like thunder to a tiny mouse. 6 7

8 One winter s afternoon, the mice were surprised to see Franz and kind Father Joseph Mohr putting out the hymn books. Are you pleased with the choir, Franz? asked Father Joseph. Certainly, he replied. The music is difficult, but the children sing their parts magnificently! Then I can t wait to hear them tonight at our special Christmas Eve service! exclaimed Father Joseph. Their singing is always the highlight of Christmas. The mice looked at one another and squealed in horror. Of course! It was Christmas Eve. Look! There was the Christmas tree. There was the crib. Soon Franz would shake the rafters with his thunderous chords. That organ gave them such a fright. Let all mice pray for a silent night! 8 9

9 TThere was no time to lose. Already the mice could hear the choir children laughing and singing as they made their way to church. But what could the poor church mice do? Mice can only scamper and nibble and scuttle and chew, unless... unless they nibbled a hole in the organ bellows. That would take the wind out of its sails! 10 11

10 NNose to tail, the mice race towards the bothersome organ. Some run all over the keys. Others find their way to the bellows. Look, Franz! Mice! cries Father Joseph. Oh, no! Not those little rascals again! mutters Franz. Just wait until I catch them! The mice begin to nibble furiously. Nibble, nibble. They must make a hole in the leather bellows before the two men reach them. They prick up their ears. Footsteps are coming close. Nibble, nibble. Now they see two large hands. Surely they will be caught! Nibble, nibble, puncture and TEAR! Hooray! A hole at last! Now run, run for your lives! 12 13

11 T Take your places quickly, please, children! said Franz, as the mice recovered from their terrible ordeal. The choir stood in line and waited for Franz to play their introductory music... But what was this? The organ muttered and spluttered. It gave a cough and a wheeze. Then nothing. Silence. The naughty church mice had brought the organ to its knees. Hee, hee! 14 15

12 WWith joyful squeaks, the mice saw Franz leave the church. What shall we do now that the organ s broken? asked a choirboy, almost in tears. We can t sing our parts without the help of the organ. I m so sorry! sighed Father Joseph. All your hard work is wasted. But here: let s sing a folk song together to cheer ourselves up. Father Joseph strummed a few chords on his old guitar. It made such a charming sound that the mice crept a little closer

13 F Father Joseph, why don t you write us a song for the service tonight? asked a choir girl. You could accompany us on your guitar! But Father Joseph only shook his head. What would everyone think of a simple guitar at Midnight Mass? he said. No, we will just have to do without your beautiful singing. The mice watched the disappointed children trudge back home. And this time, no happy song floated on the cold night air

14 The church was quiet again. But none of the mice wanted to play. If only they hadn t spoiled everyone s Christmas! Instead, they peeped into the stable scene. There was Mary, the young mother, gazing at baby Jesus as he slept peacefully in the animal s manger. There were the angels who had streamed from heaven singing, Alleluia! Christ the Saviour is born! And there were the shepherds who had trembled at the sight, and then hurried to kneel before the Son of God, who came into the world as a tiny baby, his face beaming with love

15 SSuddenly, Father Joseph took a piece of paper from his pocket. He began to read a poem written in his own handwriting. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nachte... The mice kept still and listened carefully. It sounded like the words of a lullaby for the baby Jesus. I wonder... said Father Joseph to himself. Then, with a nod of his head, he wrapped his cloak around him, and set out for Franz Gruber s home in the nearby village of Arnsdorf

16 Franz and his family were surprised to have a visitor so late on Christmas Eve. Father Joseph explained why he had come. Dear Friend, he said, I need your help. Could you write a simple tune on the guitar for my Christmas poem? We could sing it tonight and the choir could join in with the chorus. Come on in! said Franz. Please, join us for some supper and I ll see what I can do! 24 25

17 Clang TThe church bell invited the villagers to Midnight Mass. Clang Soon every row was crammed with families, all expecting to hear the usual magnificent music. The church mice hung their heads as Father Joseph explained that something had gone wrong with the organ that afternoon. I didn t know what to do, he said. But as I looked at our crib, I remembered that Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a humble stable. He is happy with simple things, kindly given. And so Franz and I have written a simple carol. It s called Silent Night and it is our gift to you

18 And the congregation was so delighted with the new carol, that they didn t notice a large family of mice, sleeping peacefully under the Christmas tree. Father Joseph strummed the opening chords and the two men began to sing: Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin, mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace! chorused the happy choirboys and girls

19 First edition 2009 Copyright 2009 Anno Domini Publishing Text copyright 2009 Vicki Howie Illustrations copyright 2009 Krisztina Kállai Nagy All rights reserved Publishing Director: Annette Reynolds Art Director: Gerald Rogers Pre -production Manager: Krystyna Kowalska Hewitt Production Manager: John Laister Printed and bound in Singapore

20 Long ago, inside a dusty hole, hidden in the Church of St Nicholas, that stood in the village of Oberndorf, beside a river that rushed helter-skelter through a land of music and mountains and snow called Austria, there lived a large family of mice. This is the story of the mice that inspired the writing and singing of the Christmas carol, Silent Night, beautifully illustrated by Hungarian-born Krisztinaa Kállai Nagy.