Christmas comes but once a year, to the chagrin of many trade publishers who, like Roy Wood, wish it could be Christmas every day: at least as far as sales are concerned.

In religious publishing there is the further torment of serving both God and mammon. A genuinely good Christmas book is therefore to be welcomed, as it not only provides much needed income, but also helps to celebrate and spread the Word - which is so important at this special time of year.

Mary and Her Miracle is a good book by a tried and trusted author, who is also a priest.

Here Barbara Crafton retells the Christmas story from the Annunciation to Epiphany, using (interestingly enough) the Jewish exegetical method of Midrash. There are many holes in the traditional story and Midrash can help to plug them with its analytical tradition.

What you are left with is a work of beauty that doesn't talk down, but equally isn't academic and can be enjoyed by all Christians, or simply those who love the Christmas story.