ONE SMALL LOST SHEEP

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)