Genre: Children’s religious
Title: Ruben: Grandpa Jacob’s First Christmas Donkey
AUTHOR: E. A. LaPalme
Joseph and Mary have to travel to Bethlehem, and need a good, strong and reliable donkey to help. Ruben, with the mark of a star upon his forehead, appears to be chosen by God himself to help the couple see the baby Jesus into the world.
“Ruben: Grandpa Jacob’s First Christmas Donkey” is the nativity story told from the perspective of the donkey that carried Mary to the stable in Bethlehem. Ruben is the donkey that belongs to Joseph’s father, soon to be called Grandpa Jacob, and plays a significant role in this familiar story that is made much more child friendly by the author. As with the original, this story is told as reminiscence by the much old Ruben to a group of young donkeys. The book ends with potential for more tales, as Ruben becomes a dutiful friend to the child Jesus.
E. A. LaPalme was inspired to write this book by his own experiences of becoming a grandparent. He looks at the perspective of Jesus’s grandparents, and it works wonderfully to give a delightful childlike quality to the telling of an often serious and didactic story. Children will definitely enjoy this book, for both its talented telling and its charming illustrations.
E. A. LaPalme is a retired teacher and the proud grandfather of seven. He lives in Brantford Ontario, where he is building a handcrafted violin for each of his grandchildren. He has already completed a second story for Ruben, as equally enjoyable, titled “My Friend Jesus is Lost in Jerusalem” and has promised his fans yet another.
Sure to be a treasured Christmas favorite for many families.
Reviewer: Nancy Morris, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: Ruben: Grandpa Jacob’s First Christmas Donkey
Author: E.A. LaPalme
Publisher: Self-published
ISBN: 0-9687215-0-8
Pages: 25
Price: $20.00
May 2007
bravenet.com
