A Donkey for the King

from inside front cover: A childhood illness robbed Jesse of his voice. Death robbed him of his parents. Alone, bitter and unloved, he found work with a circus that traveled throughout Israel. And in the circus he found Belshazzar, the white donkey. To one creature at least, Jesse was important. Then Belshazzar was sold. Jesse ran away that night, determined to find the donkey. He did find Belshazzar, and the family who now owned him. Traveling with them from Jerusalem to Ashkelon, Jesse had eyes only for the donkey. He never realized Belshazzar was interested only in one member of the family - the smallest one. It took the boy a long time - far longer than it had taken the donkey - to realize with whom he traveled. John and Patricia Beatty can make any time period come alive for their readers. Sounds, sights, tastes, smells, customs, and attitudes are skillfully interwoven in this exciting and moving story of a boy at the time of Christ's birth.