'window to the world' 
jemma bartolo
st paul's catholic primary school, camden
year 6

The little shepherd boy sits in his night robes, high on his rooftop above the city of Bethlehem. He has unrolled his mat to sleep, but there in the quiet and heat, he unexpectedly witnesses a spectacular star that radiates with the most brilliant yellow light. Inspired by the illustrations from the book ‘The Tiny Star’, this dazzling background in vibrant shades of chalk pastels captures the gentleness of the night sky; each section rubbed and shaded by hand like a tiny glass window to the world, telling us of great joy and hope at Jesus’ birth. 

The little shepherd boy is yet to understand what he has seen and is not aware that it was the Star of the East, which has stopped over the place where the child was, Matthew 2:9-12. This moment reminds me of the times when I have unexpectedly come across a shooting star in the night sky and wondered about God’s beautiful world. 

I have questioned what the meaning is, whether it was meant only for me to see and where it was going; all these things I could imagine the little shepherd boy to be wondering as he sits alone.

View more of our Christmas Story Art Exhibition 2023 artworks by clicking on our young artists' names in the teal panel. Alternatively, click through our artworks below.

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