Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for an honest review. The illustrations in this book were beautiful and I was so hoping to love this book. I do like to have biblically based books especially for Christmas. This book is hard to children to understand and several parts of it and not biblically accurate.

A beautifully illustrated story of the wise men’s search for Jesus. The story begins with the wise men searching for something beyond themselves. They set out for Jerusalem separately and meet up on the road to Herod’s palace. After an audience with Herod they make their way to Bethlehem and find Jesus in a small house with his parents.

I loved the start of this story and the reflections on the purpose of life. I found the language poetic and the descriptions thought provoking. I like the placing of Mary and Joseph in a house rather than the stable as it’s likely that the wise men took up to two years to complete their journey.

However, I didn’t like the wise men’s declaration that they had brought the wrong gifts. Yes, they could have brought more practical items, but the purpose of the gifts was to declare who Jesus was - a priest, a king, a saviour. In this version of the story, the wise men had no idea who they had met. They thanked Mary for what the baby had given them - cuddles, love and a great story… but that could have come from any baby. And there’s no mention of God in the story at all, and that is kind of the point.

I really wanted to love this book, and there were parts that I did love, but overall I just felt disappointed that it didn’t live up to expectations.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The is part of the Christmas story; what Christians call the Nativity when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

It is an expansion on the biblical account about Wise Men which because of the gifts given has been traditional believed to be three in number.

While it is faithful to the story outline the author has allowed imagination to weave an enchanting account of their visit, following the star.
In some ways it is what many have done as so little factual information is recorded in the gospel narratives.
That said, their journey was a long one; in search of a king. Yet finding a small baby with is humble family they fell down and worshipped him bestowing their gifts.
This a beautifully illustrated children’s book that sets the story within a biblical context and takes its title from the discernment gained from their encounter to return home via a different route.

The story is part of the desire to flesh out these characters.

I liked their desire to follow the star; their wisdom to journey with gifts and the speculation that a momentous happening had occurred. But the book is mostly the author’s own reasoning about these men and their encounter with King Herod. A different back story is given to each wise man, which in part is demeaning, but their antecedence isn’t really necessary, as their actions are the telling factor in their adventure. They followed but moving away from tradition the author has perhaps given them a back story of searchers more than wise. To her credit the author does reference this to the new insights they gain from beholding the infant child.

What is more telling still is their indifference to the monarch in Jerusalem whom they visited first. But rather than showing their true discernment and wisdom the author makes Herod more like a unkempt pantomime villain with halitosis anyone would see through.
Such ridicule is unnecessary and not funny given his rage later recorded in the New Testament.

Overall it will interest children and comes at the familiar story from a different perspective while remaining true to the recorded events in our bibles.
Fresh thoughts can build up our imaginations but I can think of better story books covering the Magi which are more endearing and magical. However when all is said, I wouldn’t hesitate in reading this story to my grandchildren.

This retelling of the wise men's visit to baby Jesus definitely had its ups and downs. In some ways, it followed the story most of us know, but then Ms. Taylor went off in weird directions, like describing the king's bad breath and lumpy body. Not really necessary and a little weird. It is also interesting that no names are used.

The illustrations are lively (and kudos for not having blonde, white Mary). I especially like the picture of the magi admiring and holding the baby.

Extra creepy points for this exchange when the wise men thanked the baby for the gifts he had given them:
"What are you talking about?" the baby's mother said, laughing.
"For the scent and weight and skin of a baby," said the first wise man.

I'm sorry, what?

My thanks to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book I want to reread every Christmas, and the lovely prose BBT is known for carries this narrative arc of this familiar story to a new places in my imagination.

"Home by Another Way" tells the story of the three wise men and how they found Baby Jesus. It tells of their visit with King Herod whom they met with on their journey to see Baby Jesus, and how they knew to avoid seeing King Herod again after discovering the best news in the world. They had to go home by another way.

(I'm a little disconcerted about why the smell of Pine-Sol was introduced to the story, but I guess that's okay... lol!)

Overall, I really enjoyed the picture book myself. The illustrations are tastefully done, containing all the right details and colors. Nicely done.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest opinion.

Fun, easy-to-read story. Great for younger children. Read this with my son and he enjoyed it enough.

Home By Another Way is a retelling of the three wise men from the Bible. The book has beautiful illustrations but unfortunately the writing does not compare. The author tried to tell the story for children in way they would enjoy but the writing just sounds off.

For anyone who is interested in a book about the First Christmas, this is NOT IT! The author has taken liberties with the biblical account of the birth of Jesus that are so fictionalized that it would make a child confused as to the real facts of the story. As I read it, I was constantly ticking off points to myself saying, “Nope, that’s wrong, no, no, no, “ etc... It is one thing to modernize a famous fairy tale, but this is the BIBLE! There were just too many details added, left out, or changed to make a story different that I couldn’t recommend it to anyone who wants to read about the true event. Let me recommend The Bible, Luke 2.

I was given a free, digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Christmas stories, and nativity stories, but this story seems to take too many liberties with the story, and walks the line of racial stereotyping. I was also confused by the random modern details (his breath smelled like Pine-Sol?). The illustrations are beautiful, but I think with the plethora of stories about the three kings, I can find one with more historical accuracy and better storytelling.

#Home By Another Way #Net Galley
Matthew 2:1-2 tells us about the visit of the three wise men to see the baby, Jesus. Barbara Brown Taylor brings that journey to life for us, as well as younger children! This book is a pleasing view of that journey and those they encounter along the way. The brilliant star leads them to the new born king, but they must go home another way. The artwork by Melanie Cataldo is fantastic.

Barbara Brown Taylor, a New York Times best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest., brings us this imaginative, fictionalized retelling of the biblical visit of the Magi following Jesus' birth. The biblical text on this narrative element only occurs in the book of Matthew and covers a brief 12 verses. Taylor fills out this story with some of her own imaginative elements that break with some of the commonly held notions of the traditional story. For instance, she has the "wise men" traveling from three separate countries and meeting on the road to Jerusalem. She holds with some common tradition by referring to the Magi as "wise men" and by retaining the image of three travelers. In truth, there is very little information to go on in Matthew's recording of this event. As such, theological researchers have maintained a fairly vibrant and robust discussion on the topic of the Magi in recent literature including publications from renowned theological publishers Springer and Brill. All of this is to say that Taylor has legitimately used some literary license to broaden this brief story..

So the question then becomes how well does her retelling work? It appears that Taylor is attempting to contrast the past life ambitions of the magi with the purpose that is found in Jesus. She seems to be framing each of these seekers with generalized (and somewhat common) goals. The first has tried to live a "simple, natural, life" living only on herbs and water. The second has invested his life in learning and study, dedicating his efforts to reading and writing an ancient language. The third has pursued a more 'ecstatic" experience of life by learning to walk on coals. All of these efforts leave them feeling wanting. And so they are "called" by the star to travel to see this new king.

On their way they assume they must be aiming for Jerusalem, the most likely place for a new king. When they arrive and visit King Herod, they realize that he is not the one whom they seek. They inquire about where they might find this new king and they are directed to Bethlehem with the caveat that they return and inform Herod of the location. It is at the manger where this retelling has some of its more poignant moments when we learn that all the wise men "could see was the baby." They discover that the stars in their eyes are no longer there for "they had found what they were looking for, something they could not lose." They are warned by a common dream and choose to "find a new way home."

Taylor brings the story full circle when the wise men learn that their earlier life ambitions find their purpose and meaning in this baby.

There are elements to enjoy and appreciate in this picture book. The artwork matches the tone of the story and captures some thought-provoking moments in the simplicity of the pictures. Unfortunately the symbolic trajectory (mentioned above) that seems present in the story is not clearly evident. Also there are a handful of modern references that press against the ancient context of the story, in particular, the odd mention of Pine-Sol.

So on balance this is a middling book with some strengths and some limitations. 3 stars.

This review comes as a result of a free e-galley provided by netgalley.com. #HomeByAnotherWay #NewGalley

This is a very pretty book. I can see where a lot of people may enjoy it. It's a great book to read during the holidays.

I enjoyed the pictures and the viewpoint of the three wise men travelling. I really liked that Mary and Joseph seemed so loving and welcoming. I liked that Mary laughs.

This book is definitely not for young children, as they would not understand a good amount of the words and phrases in the book. But what I am most disappointed by is the complete lack of any explanation of who Jesus is. Cultural Christianity condensed into a children's book.

The story of the three wise men is told as they meet each other and journey together to follow the star of Bethlehem. The illustrations are lovely, the text is witty as the author tries to offer a fresh rendition of a much-told tale. There is one reference to Pine-Sol, which seemed a bit out of place, but other than that it was a nicely-done retelling.

Thank you #Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. The artwork is outstanding. This is a simple and original take on the story of the three wiseman.

The illustrations are gorgeous!

This is an imaginative version of the Wise Men's story. Creatice, and with good use of description, I really like the Wise Men's simple logic & King Herod's devious display, but overall, there was a bit more poetic license tsken thsn im comfortable with.

As a parent, I enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations were really beautiful-- but my kids (ages 5 and 3) were totally uninterested. We have other biblically based books that they like, especially Christmas stories. It was the word choice. As we went, they lost the thread of the story. The words would be more appropriate for an older child, but by then, the picture book format may have lost its appeal. Thanks!

Thanks to Netgalley and Flyaway books for the ebook.

I loved the powerful message and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful.