Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey

I bought this last year for my grandson. He loved it. He turned it over and looked for a gold sticker. He thought surely it had won an award. It has beautiful pictures of Assisi, and combines the story of creation with the Christmas story. I am now buying a copy for our church.

I was immediately drawn to this book since my sister gave me my middle name after her favorite saint, Saint Francis. The illustrations are beautiful, an important factor for those of us with young children since they will be more apt to enjoy a book with detailed pictures. The story is told by Saint Francis to the donkey to help him understand his place in the world. It provides parents a perfect opportunity to discuss how harmful pride can be and how God has given each of us a reason for living. The tale includes an explanation of the creation of the animals and why the donkey was chosen to carry Mary to Bethlehem. In the afterword, the author has also included a mini-biography of St. Francis and an annotated bibliography. A selection you must have to add to your Christmas reading traditions.