"The Little Drummer Boy," also known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by pianist Katherine K. Davis in 1941. It was popularized with a 1958 recording when 20th Century Fox Records contracted Harry Simeone to make a Christmas album. Simeone re-arranged "carol of the Drum," re-titled it "The Little Drummer Boy," and recorded it with the Harry Simeone Chorale on the album Sing We Now of Christmas. The song was jointly credited to Simeone and Onorati, even though they had only arranged it. The popularity of this song is to be seen by the number of cover versions of The Little Drummer Boy--a total of over 220 versions in seven languages are known be artists such as: Bing Crosby, David Bowie, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Manheim Steamroller, Jars of Clay, Faith Hill, and Whitney Houston.

The song was the inspiration for a 1968 stop-motion animated film. The story, written by Romeo Muller, is based on the famous song, but expands it to include events before the birth of Jesus. The title character, given the name Aaron, is an misanthropic orphan who finds his life changed forever when he meets the Three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem. The show features the Vienna Boys Choir. If also features some of the most famous voice talent of the 60s and 70s including Jose Ferrer as Ben Haramad and Paul Frees as Aaron's father and the Three Wise Men.

And now, Dove and Grammy Award-winning artists, Bebe and Cece Winans have recorded their own special version just for the VeggieTales retelling of The Little Drummer Boy story as VeggieTales takes the classic song and story to an all-new fresh approach for today's families.

I had the great opportunity to interview VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki about his thoughts regarding the all-new “VeggieTales: The Little Drummer Boy.”

Regarding the video, what lesson or lessons does it teach? Why is this important for children to learn and why is it important to parents?

The themes of most VeggieTales episodes are highlighted with a Bible verse at the end, which gives authority to the lesson that plays out in the story. The idea of this video is about how Jesus came down to Earth on Christmas ultimately for our forgiveness. With Aaron, our Little Drummer Boy, we take a little twist from the original story. In the original story, his parents were killed, and we took a different route. He suffers a loss at the beginning and has real trauma. He decides he doesn’t want to forgive and wants nothing to do with people. He just wants to be with animals and be left alone. He gets recruited by this group of performers and musicians and that reinforces his unforgiving heart. At the end of the story, Aaron encounters the manger and baby Jesus and finds healing and forgiveness.

What Bible verses or Bible stories does it use to relate the overall message?

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Are there any featured music artists, songs on this DVD?

The Little Drummer Boy features a special version of the iconic “The Little Drummer Boy” song performed and recorded by Dove and Grammy Award-winning artists BeBe and CeCe Winans just for this episode and the accompanying CD, O Holy Night—A Journey of A Little Drummer Boy. The DVD also includes the brand new Silly Song, “The 8 Polish Foods of Christmas” and the song “Can’t Smile Without Ewe,” which is sung by Aaron played by Junior Asparagus. Big Idea also released VeggieTales: O Holy Night—A Journey of a Little Drummer Boy in conjunction with the DVD.

How does the Veggie version incorporate traditional family values while reinforcing Big Idea’s overall message of “God made you special—and He loves you very much”?

We wanted to revisit the original story and connect the important meaning for kids. Some of the things we wanted to draw out are found in the richness and depth of the song “The Little Drummer Boy.” You look at the lyrics “I am a poor boy too,” and he sees these kings bringing all sorts of expensive gifts to Jesus and feels like he has nothing to offer. So he offers all that he has. The story is a great metaphor about what Jesus wants most from us is our hearts and submit all that we have to Him in that way. That’s what we try to display in the story. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God forgives us, and in turn we can forgive others.

Is Big Idea partnering with any non-profit organizations on this project?

Big Idea has teamed up with Christian charity World Vision to provide gift-giving opportunities through World Vision’s Gift Catalog, offering families ways to teach their children about the joy of giving and helping others in need. More information about the partnership or to view the Gift Catalog can be found at www.veggietales.com/worldvision.
Men's Designer Polo Shirts
Lyrics:
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Matthew Henry’s commentary on Ephesians 4:32: “Here is another caution against wrath and anger, with further advice to mutual love and kindly dispositions towards each other. By bitterness, wrath, and anger, are meant violent inward resentment and displeasure against others: and, by clamor, big words, loud threats, and other intemperate speeches, by which bitterness, wrath, and anger, vent themselves. Christians should not entertain these vile passions in their hearts not be clamorous with their tongues. Evil speaking signifies all railing, reviling, and reproachful speeches, against such as we are angry with. And by malice we are to understand that rooted anger which prompts men to design and to do mischief to others. The contrary to all this follows: Be kind to one another. This implies the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expressions of it, in an affable, humble, courteous behavior. It becomes the disciples of Jesus to be kind one to another, as those who have learned, and would teach, the art of obliging. Tender-hearted; that is, merciful, and having tender sense of the distresses and sufferings of others, so as to be quickly moved to compassion and pity. Forgiving one another. Occasions of difference will happen among Christ’s disciples; and ready to forgive, therein resembling God himself, who for Christ’s sake hath forgiven them, and that more than they can forgive one another.”

Big Idea Entertainment recently released its all-new Veggie-version of the classic 1968 stop-motion animated holiday film, The Little Drummer Boy, a follow up to its highly successful Saint Nicholas Christmas story from 2009. In this heartwarming tale that teaches kids about the joy found in giving your best gift to others, using your talents and forgiveness--based on Ephesians 4:32, which says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you…”

That’s a great message for everyone as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. Junior Asparagus stars as the Little Drummer Boy, a lonely child who finds the true meaning of Christmas when he stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus. A story of generosity, hope and love, this timeless tale will warm the hearts of children everywhere!

This new recording of the classic Christmas song “The Little Drummer Boy” by BeBe and CeCe Winans has a very reverent, worshipful and reflective style, representative of the message of the song and video. The gifts the Magi bring are representative of who Jesus is, a King, Priest and Savior, with the gold, frankincense and myrrh. Really they’re not giving Jesus big important things, but representations of Him.