From Syria to Russia, Malta to Mexico, a wealth of festive traditions are celebrated worldwide at Christmas. Gathered from early Christian folklore, the stories in this rich mixture of cultures and legends blend together to create a stunning portrait of the diversity and glory of Christmas. Full color.

Do you know how a handful of weeds turned into the Christmas flowers called poinsettias? Or who hid Baby Jesus in a bowl of bread dough? And why a woman named Babushka brings toys to Russian children at Christmastime instead of Santa Claus? This lively collection of traditional Christmas tales from around the world answers these questions with stories from five different cultures. The dialogue-rich, fast-paced folktales are skillfully retold by Saviour Pirotta, a storyteller from Malta who now lives in England. Pirotta's words beg to be read aloud, or even acted out as a play or puppet show. Young readers will revel in "The Brave Little Camel" (Syria), "Baby in the Bread" (Malta), "Flowers for Jesus" (Mexico), "The Gourd of Plenty" (Ghana), and "Babushka" (Russia), all cheerfully illustrated with Sheila Moxley's colorful folk-art-style paintings. Joy to the World is a festive global tour, and a refreshing change of pace from the usual holiday fare. (Ages 4 to 8) --Marcie Bovetz