Certain Poor Shepherds A Christmas Tale

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas reimagines the classic Nativity story through the eyes of two unlikely heroes, Lila the sheepdog and Ima the goat. Set in the year 0, this chapter book follows their compelling journey across a cold upland pasture, drawn by the dazzling sight and pure scent of a star. Their path to Bethlehem is filled with both danger and profound love, offering young readers a unique, animal-kingdom perspective on the birth of Jesus. It is a gentle yet adventurous tale, perfect for families seeking to explore the spiritual meaning of Christmas with children aged 4-11, emphasizing themes of wonder, loyalty, and the universal message of the season.

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.