The Old Shepard’s Tale
Posted by: Alan in Book Reviews, Books, Christmas, Easy Picture Books
Last week I got called in to work a shift at Sumner Library. I had worked at that branch once before and they had been very nice to me so when they said they were really desperate for someone to come in from 5–9 pm I agreed. Since I’d only been there once before I was not as clear as I might have been on the driving directions, and was at the point of wondering if I had made a wrong turn when I realized the library was just ahead on the left. Since I was in the right lane, I eased over so that I would be able to turn into the driveway, quite failing to notice the big SUV already occupying the left hand lane.
Luckily it was quite minor as collisions go. The Jeep SUV’s rugged side panels showed no damage at all and the scuffs on my driver’s side doors will buff right out. I did knock the side view mirror off, but re-attaching it proved easy and inexpensive. The other driver was very nice and after re-assuring each other we were fine and that no damage needed to be reported to police or insurance, I wandered into the staff lounge at Summer, sat down at the table, broke into my emergency Pop-Tarts and picked up the first book at hand to distract myself so I could calm down and work my shift.
Which is how I came to read an Easy Picture Book, The Old Shepard’s Tale by Christopher Nye, illustrated by Henri Sorensen. I noticed right off there was a dark green stripe just above the call sticker on the spine, indicating this is Holiday title– put out on display only during a particular holiday season. A quick glance at the due date sticker indicated that Christmas is the book’s season. It certainly doesn’t look like a Christmas book. The palate is very dark with lots of browns, tans and grays and none of the bright reds and greens normally associated with children’s Christmas picture books.
Initially the setting seems to be Away In The Manager (no crib for a bed), but the story is told from the point of view of an old shepherd who happened to be at the stable with his sheep the night Mary and Joseph settled in for the birth of Jesus. But rather than sequing as most Christmas books into We Three Kings (bearing gifts of frankincense, myrrh, etc.) the shepherd relates how the animals offerred special gifts to the Christ child– the cow the gift of milk and food, the donkey the gift of protection from danger and the ox the gift of strength. Years later at his death the old shepherd will remember the gifts the animals gave that day and reflect that so long as humans recognize their bond to other animals and realize the gifts they receive from them, both will prosper.
Thus this title manages to give a very anthropomorphic New Age twist to the classic Christmas story. The book is well written and illustrated and if this variation on the usual theme appeals to you, the book is well worth checking out. But if your idea of a good Christmas book definitely includes red and green and snow-men and jingle bells, this one is probably too alternative for you. Recommended with reservations.
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January 27th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
[…] in 1859 to Sponge Bob Square Pants in 2003. Much like The Old Shepards Tale (review here), this one in the end seemed just too "alternative" for my tastes. But in […]