Her character gentle and she can now be ridden but that is only part of the story Jesus is so loving and merciful and does not forget the kindness shown to him by the family Wonderful things are about to happen. I think that this is the perfect story to introduce any child to the story of Jesus and His Passion It is so lovely to read that parents and grandparents will enjoy reading it to their children and it will also make a great addition to any Christian school library. There are references to the relevant places in the Gospels which refer to Palm Sunday and I particularly liked the little aspirations tiny prayers that bring our mind to God in times of need they would be nice for children to learn to say. The illustrations are beautiful.
Especially appropriate for Easter time and delightful for children of all ages It is beautifully illustrated by Anna Williams I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren Disclosure I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review Kindle Edition
| The Donkeys Jesus Chose, A Catholic Chapter Storybook By Christine Calabrese |
| 1960669052 |
| 9781960669056 |
| English |
| 104 |
| Kindle Edition |
Have you ever pictured the story behind the donkeys that Jesus rode on in his big entrance to Jerusalem Mara is a five year old girl born with deformed legs supported by her loving and protective parents and accompanied by two faithful and extraordinary donkeys However Mara is forced to hide away and isolate herself from the village people This was during a time where disabilities were believed to be consequences of grave sin but even so sweet five year old girl Mara her caring strong father Joseph her loving cautious mother Miriam along with their two donkeys Sapphire and her colt Star believe pray and experience miraculous events unfold One of which involve Jesus himself requesting the use of their donkeys I absolutely enjoyed this book A beautiful story about family faith and miracles Not to mention it being paired with wonderful heartfelt illustrations done by a young girl herself Thank you to Christine Calabrese for providing a copy of The Donkeys Jesus Chose to review All opinions are my own Kindle Edition 
You might find Christine taking a brisk walk gazing at the night sky sewing a new project attempting a delicious recipe or reading a captivating novel Stories brew inside her mind for years akin to the blossoming of a long lasting friendship She received the Teacher of the Year award from PS 151K and the National Right to Read Foundations Teacher of the Year You might find Christine taking a brisk walk gazing at the night sky sewing a new project attempting a delicious recipe or reading a captivating novel Stories brew inside her mind for years akin to the blossoming of a long lasting friendship She received the Teacher of the Year award from PS 151K and the National Right to Read Foundation s Teacher of the Year site_link At the beginning of this delightful children s book we are reminded that Saint John tells us in his Gospel that Jesus did so many things that there could never be enough books to describe them all This story is just one possibility of the many wonders that Jesus brought about. Miriam and Joshua live in a small village near Jerusalem They have a small daughter called Mara who due to her disability is not able to walk properly She longs to run and play with the other children but instead is mocked and even threatened because the ignorant villagers think that because she has a disability she or her parents are sinful in some way. At the beginning of the book the family are excited because their donkey Sapphire is about to give birth When the colt is born Mara is allowed to choose his name and so she calls him Star. Sapphire is quite a stubborn donkey as they often can be and she does not let anyone ride on her back but Mara hopes that when Star is old enough she will be able to ride him Mara loves the donkeys very much and the family take great care of them One day a stranger arrives at the house and asks if the man called Jesus whom everyone is calling the Messiah can borrow Sapphire and Star to ride into Jerusalem for the feast of Passover Joshua says that he can but that Sapphire does not like to be ridden Despite this the stranger still asks them to take the donkeys into Jerusalem very early in the morning and leave them there for Jesus to use. The donkeys are returned to the family by the stranger there is something very special about the man and Mara is sure that she saw wings on his back Sapphire is also different when she comes home created by a young lady of about the same age as the target readership for the story I wish that I could draw as well as Miss Anna Williams I was honoured to receive an ARC of this book from Christine Calabrese in return for an honest review. The story reminded me of the legend that every donkey has the mark of a cross across its shoulders and down its back as a sign that it was a donkey that carried Mary into Bethlehem at Christmas and Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What a beautiful book Kindle Edition Have you ever thought about the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before his passion It s a bit of mysterious event when Jesus instructs his disciples where to find a donkey for this special occasion This sweet chapter book is a fictional story about that donkey and the special family it belongs to Besides a wonderful opportunity to discuss Jesus entry to Jerusalem for His passion there are some beautiful messages about kindness acceptance faith and family devotion The illustrations of this book are special as well as they were created by a young aspiring artist Kindle Edition A beautiful early reader for Christian families to describe the events leading up to Palm Sunday and the profound affect it had on one family. Joshua his wife Miriam and their disabled daughter Mara lived a humble life in a small village They have a stubborn donkey named Sapphire who is about to give birth Sapphire refuses to allow anyone to ride her Mara must face the bullying of the village children who taunt her as a cripple In those times a handicap was often seen as a sign of sin Mara has one true friend Hannah who tells her about Jesus the Messiah. As the village prepares for Passover the family hears that Jesus will enter Jerusalem in a procession Mara pleads to go Then an unexpected request comes from a stranger to use the family donkeys for the Messiah in the procession How will this request and the miracle that follows change the life of this humble family Along with the touching tale containing lessons of empathy compassion resilience and hope children are treated to the beautiful colored pencil drawings of a budding young artist Anna Williams who illustrates the chapters As a bonus for young readers the author includes a link to learn all about donkeys. This book is especially recommended to Christian families and beginning chapter book readers Kindle Edition The author gave me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review and I must say it was adorable I am not religious so I cannot comment on the accuracy of bible passages and the teachings of Jesus but the story was well written and entertaining The illustrations having been done by a young girl were youthful and sweet Kindle Edition 5 year old Mara lives with her papa Joshua and mama Miriam in a little square home in Bethphage at the time of Christ Their donkey Sapphire has just given birth to a foal who Mara names Star because he was born on a starry night They are a loving family poor hard working but grateful each for the other Mara s birth was a miracle but she has difficulty walking because her legs are not like those of other children who tease her At that time in history physical defects were seen as curses from God To Mara the baby donkey represents good legs mobility and acceptance by the other children She looks forward to the day when Star is weaned and she can ride him. In the meantime the author provides an exciting digression where the mother son donkey team working together save a herd of sheep from a prowling wolf Did you know that donkeys were used by shepherds like sheep dogs to protect their herds I sure didn t But what is a good story without a wolf chase scene Since my grandson has come along I have learned this is very important n practically required for all truly great stories A mysterious stranger angel comes to visit Joshua one day with a mission for his donkeys The Master has need of them he says Joshua tries to warn him that Sapphire has never been ridden and will not let anyone ride her but this does not deter the handsome man And who is the Master Our LORD Jesus Christ of course The family is led to the Great Procession on Palm Sunday where they see the recalcitrant Sapphire calmly bearing the Son of God and docile Star walking next to his mother Joshua s family are overwhelmed by the sight which begins a series of minor miracles culminating in a very special one for Mara This is a lovely 9 chapter book the author weaves together Sacred Scripture and imagination to create a heart warming story It all begins with the birth of a baby donkey named Star He is a gift to five year old Mara who has difficulty walking due to a disability Although Mara bravely faces ridicule for her handicap her parents still anguish over her trials Will Mara ever have lots of friends like other children Sapphire the mama donkey has a problem that would normally render her useless She refuses to be ridden But she maintains her utility by hauling lumber carpentry tools and loads of fabric while also helping local shepherds watch over their flock Mara s parents Joshua the carpenter and Miriam the seamstress provide a loving home for their child One day they begin hearing intriguing stories about Jesus of Nazareth Then their lives quickly collide with the King of Kings in an extraordinary way when a benevolent stranger enters their lives The mysterious visitor requests the use of their donkeys for the day Jesus rides into Jerusalem Unknown to Joshua the animals see the man for who he really is an angel Their stubbornness melts away as they bow in submission It is then we realize that Sapphire the mama will be a safe and steady mount for Our Lord The story is complemented by illustrations created by a young teenage artist providing an authentic and natural aesthetic Discover the book destined to become a Holy Week classic a must read for every young Christian Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to deepen your faith and gain a fresh perspective on the Easter season Don t miss out get your copy today Perfect for boys and girls ages 6 15 or grades 1 10 The Donkeys Jesus Chose A Catholic Chapter Storybook.