The Donkey in the Living Room: A Tradition that Celebrates the Real Meaning of Christmas

by Sarah Cunningham, Michael K. Foster (Illustrator)

Overview

Begin a new family tradition this Christmas with The Donkey in the Living Room picture book! 

Children will learn the true meaning of Christmas through individual stories of the characters present at Jesus’ birth—the Donkey, Cow, Sheep, Shepherd, Angel, Camel, Wise Men, Joseph, and of course, baby Jesus. On each of the nine days leading up to Christmas, introduce the story of a new character, and share a new appreciation for the advent season.

This book can be used with any nativity set that includes the nine pieces listed above. Also available separately: The Donkey in the Living Room Nativity Set (978-1433684487), which includes a keepsake box filled with the picture book AND nativity pieces to be wrapped and slowly opened as each part of the story is read. 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433683176
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sarah Raymond Cunningham is the author of Portable Faith and The Well Balanced World Changer and the creator of the children’s Christmas book, TheDonkey in the Living Room. As a freelance consultant, she has also helped develop some of the top Christian events in the country. She blogs about finding extraordinary friendships in an ordinary world at: www.sarahcunningham.org.


Michael K. Foster is the owner of Foster Animation, a cartoon and animation studio located in upstate New York. With over twenty years experience in design, illustration and animation Michael provides quality design for many leading Christian and Family oriented companies such as, The Go Fish Guys, Phil Vischer's What's In The Bible DVD series, The Rizers, Hasbro Toys & Anagram International.
 

Editorial Reviews

09/15/2014
A bit of a mashup of an Advent calendar and the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon, this book—originally self-published with different illustrations in 2012, and then as an e-book with the current art in 2013—presents the Nativity story from the perspectives of key characters in a typical “manger scene.” Cunningham explains how adults can wrap and hide individual figurines around the house, and then read the related rhyming story together with children once they locate and unwrap the figurine. Beginning with Mary, mother of Jesus, and ending with Baby Jesus, nine characters have their say, including the Angel: “Have you heard how angels lit up the sky/ And delivered a message from our God on high?” Comedic, animation-flavored artwork gives the proceedings a slick, commercial look. This volume can be purchased individually or with a boxed manger scene containing wooden standing figures. Ages 4–up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly