The First Supper! by Ronda Martin is a sweet and engaging story about the birth of Jesus, written from the perspective of the innkeeper's wife, Naomi. This 34-page hard-cover book is filled with charming, colorful illustrations that will attract the eye of children young and old. Available on Amazon for $15.95, this book is sure to become a family favorite. 

Upon receiving The First Supper!, my four-year-old daughter and I immediately snuggled up on the couch to dig into it. The first time we read it, we were utterly enthralled with this new point of view on a 2,000-year-old story. Of course, we know the story of our savior's birth and have read it many times, in many different books- but this fresh new take was an interesting approach that truly captured our hearts. 

The illustrations are full of life and are so endearing that you feel a connection to each character. The story is written in a clear, strong voice, and my daughter loved hearing about Naomi's experience and everything that was happening behind the scenes while the baby Jesus was being born. 

One of our favorite parts of this story was hearing about the care that the innkeeper's wife took in preparing a meal for Mary, Joseph, and the baby after the birth. My daughter was especially excited that there are recipes for baked bread and roast leg of lamb at the end of the story and a list of foods you can prepare to recreate "the first supper" at home! We have set our intentions to prepare this meal for our family on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus's birth and honor the types of foods that Mary probably ate while recovering from labor. 

While The First Supper! would be an excellent addition to your Christmas season book rotation, it is also a delightful story to share with your family year-round. We have read this book numerous times since we received it, keeping the story of the Christmas season alive all year long! We love snuggling up together, reading this story, and talking about the miracle of Jesus Christ as a family. 

Although this story is a significant favorite of my four-year-old, my nine-year-old and ten-year-old also enjoy it! Therefore, I would recommend this book to families with children ages twelve and under. The First Supper! is a book that we will surely enjoy reading together for years to come. 

-Product review by Danielle Lenz, The Old Schoolhouse®, April 2022