The Little Bell That Wouldn't Ring
A Christmas Story
Age 4+
Picture Books
In a church tower, three bells practice ringing for Christmas Eve. But the newest and smallest bell in the tower is silent. What could be wrong? The dove, the wise crow, and all the other animals find good words to try to encourage the little bell to ring. But nothing works... until Christmas Eve when they find the words that inspire the little bell to ring out—“Peace on earth.”
An inventive story about the meaning of Christmas, with ethereal illustrations by Maja Dusíková.
Creators
Heike Conradi studied piano and elementary music education before going on to teach at a music school and at several nursery schools. Every week she would find herself in the company of happy, sad, lively, quiet, shy, and boisterous children full of music and fantasy—and they all loved hearing stories. Having lived and worked in Frankfurt, Freiburg, Chicago, Hamburg, and Singen, she has now settled down with her husband in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Maja Dusíková studied art in Bratislava and graduated in graphic art and book illustration in 1973. During the last fifteen years, her work has been exhibited all over the world, and she has illustrated more than forty children’s books in her own inimitably beautiful style, including those she did for NorthSouth Books: Heidi and Advent Storybook. Since 1982 she and her family have lived in Florence, ltaly.
Reviews
But which nice words will move the little bell to ring?…this message of peace finally inspires the bell to ring, delivering a satisfying conclusion to the tale. Nice words, indeed.
Kirkus Reviews
Dusíková’s gauzy holiday scenes in a snowy village square bring to mind old-fashioned Christmas cards, helping to tell the story of how a reluctant church tower bell finds its sound. The tower’s three older residents—gold, silver, and bronze bells—have started practicing for Christmas, but they can’t get the newest, smallest bell to join in. Conradi’s tale accessibly ties together secular and religious aspects of Christmas.
Publishers Weekly
