Synopses & Reviews
As the first Christmas draws near, four travelers must make their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. An angel asks four animals to choose which traveler they would like to carry. The horse chooses the brave soldier; the camel, the wise king; the ox, the good Samaritan. But the donkey, who chooses the poor woman with child, discovers that his humble-looking passenger is the one carrying the greatest of them all. With its simple rhymes, lavish illustrations and eye-catching foil throughout, this book conveys the very special spirit of the Christmas season.
Review
"Kneen's sumptuous watercolor and gouache paintings, embossed with texture and gold foil accents, convey the awesomeness of Jesus' birth in this novel retelling of the Nativity. An angel asks four beasts of burden to assist four different travelers on the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, noting that only one animal shall carry "the greatest of them all." The donkey, who selects last, transports not king, soldier, or Samaritan, but a poor pregnant woman. The simple yet reverent rhyming text reveals the identity of the donkey's precious passenger." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
"The lavish watercolor-and-gouche illustrations on heavy textured paper are lovely..." -
School Library Journal "Kneen's watercolor-and-gouache illustrations have a greeting-card prettiness...with arched framing devices that suggest stained glass windows." - Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Maggie Kneen was born and raised in England. She studied illustration at Liverpool Polytechnic and at the Central School of Art and Design in London.