A DONKEY FOR THE KING

by Olive Price ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1945

Too bad that this, too, will not be ready for the Easter sale, for here is another book rooted in the Gospel, although -- unlike NATHAN, this is wholly imaginary, simply using the Palm Sunday story as a starter...A rich man and his spoiled and selfish son, attended by a crippled bread boy, are approaching Jerusalem for a visit to the bazaars, when a white donkey, beloved of the children of Bethany, is taken for ""the King"" -- to fulfill the words of the prophet. The lane boy, Joshua, is fired with al and hope at what his master tells him of the teacher, Jesus of Nasareth. They follow the triumphant procession into Jerusalem, and eventually Joshua's master acquires Dusty and gives him to Joshua as his own. Dusty is no ordinary animal, and the subsequent adventures form in themselves a parable, illustrating how a great spirit can permeate even a lowly donkey and help raise mortals to a higher plane of being.... While the story has a tender quality and some charm, it seems for the most part, rather studied and artificial. And frankly, Valenti Angelo's pen drawings, with color overlay, reflect too much the orthodox stained glass window conception of Gospel stories to appeal to the average child.

Pub Date: April 1, 1945

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Whittlesey House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1945

Categories: CHILDREN'S