This beautiful picture book captures the absolute essence of Christmas, retelling the story of the Nativity through the eyes of the donkey, and presenting the Holy Family as refugees relying on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter. The text is gentle and reassuring for the youngest reader, and the illustrations, black and grey wash lit up by bold splashes of yellow, show the family as real people in a difficult and frightening situation. The final spread offers hope, and depicts the family gathered round a table with friends in Egypt, having found shelter. £1 from every sale will go to the charity War Child UK. ~Andrea Reece
Kate at Nosy Crow says:“I was watching the ongoing refugee crisis on the news a few weeks ago and desperately wanted to do something to help. Then Anne sent in her beautiful text. We read it, we cried and we knew we had found what we could do. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone who is giving their time and skills for free to help us publish this beautiful book, to do what we can to help.”
The Christmas story and what follows: the fleeing of Jesus, Mary and Joseph from Herod's soldiers to Egypt. This is a book with timeless crossover appeal and a message that couldn't be more relevant.
“A book to share with a lump in your throat and an ache in your heart until the beauty and hope of the very last page. Anne and Sam have created an important Christmas book.” Chris Riddell, Children’s Laureate
Author
About Anne Booth
Anne Booth writes highly acclaimed children's fiction and picture books and is known for the exceptional warmth and authenticity of her writing. Her picture books include Refuge, illustrated by Sam Usher, and Little Cloud, illustrated by Sarah Massini.
Anne lives in Kent and has always wanted to bea children’s writer, but on the way to becoming one has worked in many jobs. Anne lives in a lovely village with her husband and four children– and the children's grandfather across the road. They have two hens called Poppy and Anastasia and two dogs called Timmy and Ben. Anne loves tea and once won a Blue Peter badge for writing a poem about two mice in a bucket of rice. Despite this, she does not own any mice. Anne’s debut novel Girl with a White Dog was shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize.
