The Little Hills of Nazareth

LeTord's latest work (following My Grandma Leonie ) relates in spare language the story of Joseph and Mary and their donkey Naboth, happy and at home among the hills of Nazareth. ``Joseph picked apricots / for their supper . . . When it came time / for Mary to give birth, / Joseph took her to Bethlehem,'' where Mary finds mean comfort in a stable, next to Naboth. The tale transcends the couple's earthly concerns and shows the heavenly celebration of a baby's birth; LeTord moves with ease between these facets of storytelling. Her illustrationssoft, framed watercolorsare characteristically naive and endearing and reveal in a few strokes of well-placed color the good nature of each of the three main players in this tale. All ages. (August)