“While Shepherds Watched” is a children’s picture book written to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.
Today Matthias turns eight, and he gets to go out into the fields to take care of the sheep tonight. He’s looked forward to this for a long time. As he heads out to take his place, it gets dark quickly, and he’s a little bit nervous.
As he watches the sheep huddle together for warmth, he notices that one of the ewes is standing apart from the rest. John, who is four years older than Matthias, explains that the ewe will deliver soon. Matthias is excited to think that a lamb will be born his very first night out, and on his birthday, too.
When the ewe delivers, Matthias is worried. The lamb doesn’t seem to be moving, even though the mother licks it carefully. He wishes there was a little more light so he could get a better look at the lamb.
Suddenly, there is a whole sky full of light. It shines on all the surrounding hills and houses. Matthias has never seen anything like it, and then an angel steps forward out of the light. The shepherds are afraid and back away.
The angel speaks and tells them not to be frightened, but the time has come to rejoice. The Savior has been born in nearby Bethlehem, and the shepherds are invited to go worship him.
A beautiful new star has appeared in the sky, and the shepherds decide to follow the star to Bethlehem and see the new baby. Matthias wants to go too, but he doesn’t want to leave the new lamb behind. He’s worried something will happen to it. So he gathers up the lamb and brings it with him.
When the shepherds arrive at the stable, they see Mary and Joseph, and a tiny baby. Matthias is surprised to find that the baby looks much like every other baby he’s ever seen. Mary motions for him to come closer, and the baby reaches out and touches the tiny lamb Matthias holds.
When Matthias returns to the field, he sets the lamb down near its mother, and it walks, wagging its tail.
I enjoyed this tender picture book. I did find some of the illustrations a little off – when Matthias shows the lamb to Mary, Jesus is depicted as being around six months old, even though the story (and the Bible) plainly state that he was a newborn. Overall, this book is a great addition to your Christmas story line-up.
(This book was published in 1992 by Lathrop, Lee and Shepard and was illustrated by Peter Melnyczuk.)
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