The Donkey's Tales: The Story of Jesus

Donkeys played a central role in Jesus' birth and death. In this charming little story, a mother donkey tells her son the tale of his grandmother, who carried Mary to Bethlehem and witnessed Jesus' birth and the coming of the shepherds and wise men to adore the Christ child. The young donkey's grandmother also took the young Jesus and his family to Egypt to escape Herod and eventually accompanied Jesus and his family back into Nazareth. The narrator also explains that his grandmother had been frightened the day they came home from Jerusalem and could not find Jesus--until at last they found him back at the temple, teaching his elders about God. As the young donkey moans about being born too late to help Jesus, two men come to his stall and lead him away to the city. As they draw nearer to Jerusalem and the people gather to lay palm leaves along the road, the young donkey realizes that the man riding him is the same man that his grandmother carried long ago, and he feels he is ""most blessed among all the donkeys in the world."" Carmichael's lustrous palette brings the characters to life. Colvin's sentimental tale is just right for a Christmas read-aloud. Ages 3-up. (Oct.)