The setting is Bethlehem. The young shepherd Benjamin has lost his lame sheep, Kivsa; scrambling over the rocky terrain, thorns biting at his legs, he calls for her without success and finally cries himself to sleep. Wakening a short time later, he heads back to the encampment, where he learns that a chorus of heavenly voices has heralded the birth of the king. Benjamin leads the shepherds to the stable--no small task, as Bethlehem is rife with stables--as he follows the trail of a familiar bleat. There Benjamin finds his little lame friend, along with a blind ox, an abused donkey, and a decrepit, earless goat, the usual suspects all come to marvel at the newborn. This neatly paced nativity story isn't for everyone, with the religious sentiments laid on as thick as a carpet. Krudop's handsome artwork captures the mood of the story and adds mystery of its own, conveying a real sense of place in Bethlehem and its surroundings. (Picture book. 4-8)
