Homeward he trudges, and, once there, his concern for Kivsa is ignored by his brother David who excitedly rants about a wondrous light he has seen - a whole chorus of angels singing just to the shepherds. As the shepherds head down the hillside, Benjamin is carried along by the crowd towards Bethlehem. He hears the bleating of a lamb, and, following the sound, finds Kivsa, surrounded by other animals, each one with its own particular handicap, in a broken-down stable. Containing his happiness at finding his beloved lamb, Benjamin notices the newborn baby lying in the manger and drops to his knees in prayer. With its simple vocabulary and short sentences, Mills's story of the Nativity gives readers a different perspective - that of a young shepherd boy.
Mills captures the mood with tenderness and warmth.
Krudop's illustrations match the text with their simplicity. Purchase only if you need to boost your collection of Christmas stories. Gail Hamilton is a teacher-librarian at Bird's Hill School in East St. Paul, Manitoba. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.