I wasn't familiar with this poem before reading this, but I feel like it resonates quite a bit with the climate we're currently living in inside the US. The art reminded me of some books I used to read when I was a child myself, and it made me feel very nostalgic. This will be a great addition to any child's little library for the holiday season

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7504180599

Although it is nowhere near Christmas, the cover of the book and never having heard of the poem caught my attention. The illustrations in the book were absolutely adorable. The poem was solid and the message of hope is something that we all need to read and hear. I think the message is especially important today as there is so much going on in the world that it can be easy to lose hope. May we all hear the bells and never lose hope.

A big thank you to the publisher, Familius, the illustrator, Janna Steagall, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, a lovely version of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. I loved this really wonderful and festive children's picture book. The poem is beautiful, of course, and even though there are happy and fun vibes, there are also contemplative and reflective moments, which is perfect for the end of the year. I loved the art and it felt like the perfect representation of the poem. Thank you so much again!

Beautiful poem and illustrations!!!!! A little early for Christmas but full of beautiful sentiment and not to mention the illustrations and the unique style they have. The kids will love it, no doubt about it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

When I review children's books I always preface my review by saying that I have a little nephew and that I love finding books to gift him, but this time I feel like there's no need to do that, because I heard the bells on Christmas day is a timeless poem and this book is perfect for every reader.

The illustrations are beautiful, they give a cozy vibe with all the warmer tones and with the illustrator's style.

At the end of the book, there's a little biography for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and I always enjoy seeing this kind of additions to children's books. It gives them to opportunity to learn something new and also satisfies curiosity!

This book was very sweet. A nice repurposing of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem with some beautifully drawn illustrations. I could see reading this with my niece and nephew next Christmas and teaching them about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow!

As soon as I read I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, I knew it was going to be a book I will read again with my nieces and nephews during the holidays. This edition takes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's timeless Christmas poem and pairs it with beautiful illustrations by Janna Steagall - and the result is something special. The poem itself has always moved me. It's full of hope, even in the midst of sadness, and its message of peace on earth and goodwill still feels incredibly relevant today. What makes this version stand out is how the illustrations bring that message to life in such a heartfelt way. They're not whimsical or silly - they're warm, thoughtful, and full of emotion. Each page feels like it was created with care, making it easy for kids to connect with the deeper meaning without it feeling heavy. I can already imagine sitting down by the Christmas tree with my family and reading it together. It's one of those stories that opens up space for questions and conversations - about kindness, about hope, and about believing in goodness, even when the world feels uncertain. This book will make a beautiful gift for families, and honestly, for anyone who appreciates stories that are meaningful and heartfelt. I'm glad I found it, and I can't wait to share it with the kids in my life when Christmas comes around.

Christmas lover here so of course I enjoyed seeing this poem/song in book form. I really liked the art style as it kept it childlike but cozy - and still would be "acceptable" as a gift to an adult as well. I also really liked that there was info about the original writer at the end.

It’s beautiful. It’s timely. It inspires hope within us and in those around us.

The illustrations are peaceful and joyful and warm and cozy and lovely. The lyrical lines of the book are equally so. But the message woven into it - that it’s hard to believe in peace when so much of what we see from those around us evokes chaos and unrest - is absolutely what we need to hear most right now.

Good will prevail. Evil will fail. God is not dead.

I went into this having never heard the poem before and thought it was just going to be a cute Christmas poem with illustrations to go along with it. And it is a very good Christmas poem with cute illustrations but it's also a message of hope when Peace of Earth doesn't seem possible. I think this book is being released at the perfect time and the poem will be (once again) incredibly relevant in today's current events. The illustrations are beautiful and diverse and thought-provoking. I can't wait for this one to release so I can get a copy for my Christmas book collection.

What an absolutely gorgeous book! This is a must-have for aesthetic children's holiday book shelves. I love that it took a classic poem and paired it with beautiful illustrations to give us this modern rendition. Thank you, NetGalley!