Dave the Donkey
"Dave the Donkey" was short listed with my Car Park Parable books for the 2010 CALEB award for faith inspired writing in the Children’s section. I have personally corresponded with Dave’s author, Andrew McDonough, who is a South Australian also trying to get good Australian content out there in an American saturated market. He has given me some great insight into the publishing industry; don’t let that fool you though – I’m not afraid to tell you what’s wrong with this book. Unfortunately – there’s nothing wrong with it.
Dave the Donkey is an excellent retelling of the events around Easter from the donkey’s perspective. But it’s not a narration of the events – it takes the form of a picture book where less words are more. Where the irony, contrasts and juxtapositions in the last week of Jesus’ life are left to speak for themselves, and told with such simplicity that they are compelling even for a child.
As with all of the Lost Sheep books the pictures are bright, the humour is funny [and Australian], there is information on the back page about how to use the story, and there are little surprises to find on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th readings.
Although the Lost Sheep books are aimed at children, like all good stories they are ageless. I have personally used this story in schools, nursing homes and worship with no kids present – it always brings a smile and that pause, when you know something is taking root is a person’s heart.
Great to add to anyone in Ministry’s Easter repertoire [and you can download a project-able version from the lost sheep website] it is also a great book for a child to own to help them ponder this imponderable event.
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