Certain Poor Shepherds: A Christmas Tale
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Book Overview
A dog, a goat, and their flock follow the sight and scent of a star in a beautifully illustrated, keenly observed Nativity story. The story begins on a cold upland pasture where coarse grass and scrub cedar grew. The hour was midnight. The day was the first of winter. And the year of our Lord was not 1900 or 1600 or even 100. It was 0. On that night a white goat, Ima, and a huge, gray short-haired sheepdog, Lila, were keeping watch over a small flock of young sheep. Bright and dazzling, a star appears behind the cedars on the eastern skyline. It is big and powerful, and it has a pure, clean scent, like something halfway between honey and water. Lila, the sheepdog, and Ima, the goat, are compelled to follow the star on a journey to a humble manger in Bethlehem, a journey beset with danger, adventure, and love. In a story alive with insight and grace, best-selling author Elizabeth Scott Thomas brings us a striking portrait of the Nativity story from the captivating point of the view of the animal kingdom.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0763670626
ISBN13:9780763670627
Release Date:September 2015
Publisher:Candlewick Press (MA)
Length:160 Pages
Weight:1.10 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.1" x 8.1"
Age Range:8 to 12 years
Grade Range:Grades 3 to 7
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Wonderful Story
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
"Certain Poor Shepherds" was given to me as a Christmas gift by a friend several years ago. I treasure this boook and have gone back and read it several times over. I have also purchased it several times over as a Christmas gift to friends. It is a moving tale from the animals' point of view and although I consider this a story for adults and teens, it definitely requires a reader who has a love for animals and for fiction that taps into one's imagination.
A Unique and Poignant Christmas Tale
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This book is a little treasure and one of my favorites. It's the story of the night of Christ's birth as perceived by the animals. It is told with great sensitivity by reknowned animal lover Elizabeth Marshall Thomas and as such it is filled with eye-opening empathy and poignant beauty. It has an interesting take on angels as seen by animals, showing them to be very non-human and free of human stereotypes. Perhaps our perceptions of ourselves do color our perceptions of angels as well. It taught me a lot about the way animals might perceive the strange, crude doings of humans and helped me view my relationships with animals with more thoughtfulness. In that sense alone, it is a worthy addition to any library and especially to a holiday collection. I love this book very much. The hard cover is out of print but is pleasingly compact and makes a wonderful heirloom that is worth searching for. This paperback edition is nicely affordable and will make a perfect gift for anyone who loves and lives with animals.
Certain Poor Shepards: A Christmas Tale
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is one of the most wonderful stories I have ever read. I read it every year. It brings back the true meaning of Christmas.It is sad, but very beautiful. My husband gave it to me on Christmas Eve when it was first published, which also makes the book very special. I have a dog named Sabrina, which reminds me of Lila.
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