The Donkey Who Carried a King

by R.C. Sproul, Chuck Groenink (Illustrator)

Riley gets upset when his playmates pick him last for their games. When Grandpa hears about the problem, he asks, "Riley, have you ever heard about the donkey who carried a king?" Davey was a young donkey who was bored and unhappy because he was never given anything to do. Then one day, some strangers came to the gate--and Davey's master picked him for a very special task. Davey carried the King, Jesus, into Jerusalem. Afterward, Davey felt proud of himself and believed he should do only special jobs. But Davey's master put him to work doing ordinary things. That made Davey grumpy.

A few days later, Davey saw something terrible--some angry people were making the King carry a heavy beam of wood. Davey could not understand it, but another donkey, old Barnabas, helped him see that the King was being a Servant. After that, Davey made up his mind to do every task without grumbling.

Through his story, Grandpa helps Riley see what Jesus was really carrying on that terrible day.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Christian, Faith, Theology, Christmas, Christianity

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2012

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, such a sweet and beautiful story of love and learning to do the very best at whatever job you are given. Davey is a sweetheart of a donkey, he's young and doesn't understand everything. He's very curious about life and why he isn't chosen to do better jobs. He's always picked to do the least important things, so he thinks. One day, Davey is given a huge job to do and he's so excited 😆!! He's chosen to carry King Jesus into Jerusalem! Davey is so happy with all of the people, sounds and sights he's never seen or heard before.

Sadly one day, Davey sees the very King Jesus that he just carried into Jerusalem a few days ago carrying a cross. ✝️ His friend, Barnabas, also a donkey explains that King Jesus came into this world to do the best job of all....to die for the sins of His people and be raised to life three days later!!

This is a wonderful audiobook available on Libby and it's also a story book full of pictures and told in a way young children will be able to understand. I didn't have the book, only the audiobook which is full of sounds and music 🎶!!

I highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone!

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨🐴💙

[S. Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I think I made my two year old uncomfortable as I sobbed reading this.

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I have lately become convicted about making the Easter holiday more of a big deal for our budding family. Like many Americans, we've allowed Christmas to monopolize our holiday calendar, giving it the anticipation, preparation & financial devotion that may more rightly belong to Easter. Of all the days to celebrate for a Christian, Easter is arguably top-notch. So, this year, Mike and I have allowed ourselves to begin to imagine and create ways to make Easter extra-special for ourselves and our kids.

For our family, R.C. Sproul's The Donkey Who Carried a King earns its rightful place among a small, but growing list of resources that will help to make Easter special. As a picture book with a healthy amount of text per page, this book appears to be written for the pre-school through pre-teen audience.

The first two things that catch my attention as I open The Donkey Who Carried a King are the rich, magical illustrations, and gorgeous graphic design. Yum. (For an artist, you have to understand--the appreciation of these elements is almost palpable.)

The book startles me by opening in a modern day setting. I am expecting to be ushered into Sunday school class story time with "Once upon a time there was a donkey..." so this detour is a fun surprise.

Again, Sproul's writing catches me off-guard, as the plot lands where I expect it to finish and I'm only half-way through the book. It's like watching a delicious movie and getting to where you think the credits are going to roll... then you look at the progress bar, and see that you've still got 59 minutes to go. Pure entertainment bliss.

But, finally The Donkey Who Carried a King rounds out its beauty by being inspiring, not preachy. Christ-centered, not legalistic. And multi-faceted, not simplistic. This one will go in the Costanzo family Easter library to be brought out year after year as our kids grow.

I received The Donkey Who Carried a King free from the publisher as compensation for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

--Jen

Fun update! Check out the author reading the book aloud here.

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite Sproul children’s book, with the possible exception of The Barber Who Wanted to Pray. The message helps me behold the wonder and humility of Christ’s service and encourages me to serve humbly myself. A needed message.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Majestoso, incrívelmente comovente, Sproul e seus frutos eternos glória a Deus!

“Alegra-te muito, ó filha de Sião;  exulta, ó filha de Jerusalém:  eis aí te vem o teu Rei, justo e salvador, humilde,  montado em jumento, num jumentinho,  cria de jumenta.” (Zacarias 9.9)

[Jan]

12/10/2023

[Holly Ducarte · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5
My daughter loved this book ever since we first read it to her this past Easter. She’s always asking me to read it every night at bedtime. It’s a very cute book involving a donkey named Davey who is given an important task of carrying Jesus during Palm Sunday. He learns lessons along the way, especially that serving others is truly important and we learn that most of all through Christ’s sacrifice. It has some redundancies, but is overall very sweet. The illustrations are top notch as well.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband’s pick for a family Easter gift. I was surprised that it opened on a modern kid with a rather relatable problem (getting picked last for games— clearly, I didn’t read this page’s summary before he ordered it) but it was masterfully woven into a multifaceted retelling of the events leading up to Easter. A bit long for the attention spans of the 3 and 5 year olds, but my 7 year old enjoyed it, and I can see this making repeat appearances for many Easters to come.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblically sound (with artistic license) yet written eloquently and relatable for school aged children to get an idea of a bystanders perspective of Jesus’ sacrifice. We have been searching for an Easter book that will be a tradition for us to read, and this is it. This ticks all the boxes we have for Christmas books that beautifully express the birth of our Savior, and Sproul’s book here does a wonderful job for the Easter end. We are grateful.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though a simple story, this has so many layers of truth and possible applications. Definitely epitomizes C. S. Lewis's dictum that the only good children's books are the ones worth rereading as an adult.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looooove me a good allegory/metaphorical story.

[DeNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect book to read with my 6 year old as we prepare to celebrate Palm sunday.

[Kaitlyn Pindak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love R.C. Sproul’s children’s books.

This one made me cry. Beautiful.
5/5 🌟

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente! Tenho certeza que os pequenos vão apreciar.

[Débora Bernardes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprei para ler para a minha filha e estou apaixonada.

[Harold Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The biblical teaching that Jesus was the Suffering Servant who carried the sins of His people when He went to the cross is vividly brought home to children in The Donkey Who Carried a King, the latest children's book from respected theologian, author, and educator Dr. R.C. Sproul.

Davey was a young donkey who was bored and unhappy because he was never given anything to do. Then one day, some strangers came to the gate--and Davey's master picked him for a very special task. Davey carried the King, Jesus, into Jerusalem. A few days later, Davey saw some angry people making the King carry a heavy beam of wood. Davey could not understand it--until another donkey helped him see that the King was being a Servant on behalf of His people.

The Donkey Who Carried a King offers a unique perspective on the events of Jesus' Passion Week and calls all believers, both young and old, to follow in the footsteps of the Suffering Servant for the glory of God. Jesus was willing to leave the glories of heaven to suffer and die in this world on our behalf, so we should serve Him with all our hearts." (From the Reformation Trust Publisher's Website)

About the Author: Dr. Robert Charles Sproul (born 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American, Calvinist theologian, and pastor. He is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries (named after the Ligonier Valley just outside of Pittsburgh, where the ministry started as a study center for college and seminary students) and can be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and throughout 60 countries. Ligonier hosts several theological conferences each year, including the main conference held each year in Orlando, Florida, at which Sproul is one of the primary speakers. Sproul holds degrees from Westminster College, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Free University of Amsterdam, and Whitefield Theological Seminary, and he has taught at numerous colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Knox Theological Seminary in Ft. Lauderdale. Currently, he is Senior Minister of Preaching and Teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, where he began preaching in 1997.

R. C. Sproul is married to Vesta Ann of Pittsburgh, PA. They have two grown children - a daughter, Sherrie Sproul Dick, and a son, R. C. Sproul, Jr. Dr. R. C. Sproul, Jr., is a theologian and a strong supporter of homeschooling, traditional family roles, and limited government. (Sources - Ligonier Ministries and Wikipedia. Much thanks to John Cobb and Toni Roth of Ligonier Ministries for their provision of Dr. Sproul's biographical and bibliographical information).

My Thoughts About the Book: Never let it be said than an adult can not enjoy reading a good children's book because it just isn't true. I for one still enjoy reading a well-written children's book from time to time to bring out the heart of the child that still beats within me. And The Donkey Who Carried A King is such a book.

The Donkey Who Carried A King is a delightful, beautifully illustrated and thoroughly captivating read about an ordinary Donkey named Davey. The story as told by a grandfather to his grandson named Reilly is about Davey, a donkey who lived in village close to Jerusalem, who never got picked to do anything while all the other donkeys had some type of work to do. Reilly had a similar situation that was troubling him. When he played with the boys from his neighborhood he was always picked last and it hurt him. In the book we read about the famous "Balaam's Donkey" written of in the Bible as well as about Barnabas, a donkey belonging to Joseph and Mary, the mother of Christ who carried her to Bethlehem so she could give birth to her son Jesus.

Well, time passed and finally one day Davey the donkey was picked by his master to do a very important task. He was selected for Christ to ride upon as He made his Triumphal Entry into the city of Jerusalem. Davey had been selected to carry a king...but not just any king...he carried Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, on his back and it made him feel very happy and proud. But after that Davey was put to work carrying ordinary things and he did not like that one bit...he felt he was better at doing the "special jobs, like carrying important people."

One morning Davey was led back to the outskirts of Jerusalem where he saw Jesus again, only this time he was not riding a donkey, but rather, he was carrying a cross. And Davey wanted badly to carry the cross for Jesus but he couldn't.

When he returned home he went to old Barnabas and told him what he had seen that day. Barnabas shared with Davey that when he had carried Mary the mother of Jesus on his back, he learned that one day Jesus would die to bring salvation to his people. From what Barnabas had shared with him, Davey understood that Jesus, the king he had carried on his back, was being a servant for others. And he learned from that, that if Jesus who was a king could serve others in such a way, then he could serve his master willingly by carrying his olives.

The grandfather paused in sharing Davey's story with Reilly to teach him a valuable lesson from the life of Davey and that is that he should be thankful when chosen last to play games with the boys in the neighborhood and content with whatever he was asked to do. Reilly's grandfather ended his story by telling him about Jesus the King and how he died on the cross as the suffering servant to his people.

But as Reilly's grandfather shared with him the story did not end with the death of Christ. Christ rose from the dead making "him the greatest King of all." And with that Reilly concluded that he wanted to serve Jesus and do whatever He asked him to do, "whether it's a little job or something very important." And that my friends is a lesson we all need to learn - both child and adult.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from Reformation Trust Publishers for review and promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have previously enjoyed the author’s Christian children’s book titled The Priest with Dirty Clothes. Written by Christian theologian R.C. Sproul, I appreciated that this book was biblically solid and yet enjoyable for young ones. My three little girls who are all pre-school age also enjoyed this book when I read it aloud to them.
The book begins as a story of a child name Reilly who had a hard day since he was picked last in a game among some of the other boys in his neighborhood. I imagine children can relate to Reilly. This event sparked the grandfather to tell a beautiful story from the perspective of the donkey that carried Jesus. RC Sproul has always had a gift of making deep things understandable for lay people and here in this book his skill is also seen in his ability to illustrate the Gospel in ways that children would appreciate. Sproul also draws applications from what Christ has done for little ones as well. I also enjoyed how the book has a section for parents in the end of the book including questions for spiritual conversations with your child and the answer for parents to read and help explain to their children. What a wonderful combination of a Christ centered children’s book with beautiful illustrations, and help for the parents! I recommend this.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many. ~ Matthew 20:28

Today is Easter Sunday. It is the day we have been anticipating in the season of Lent. Holy Week began a week ago with Palm Sunday. This picture book tells the story of a donkey named Davey who is chosen to carry Jesus as he makes his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. As we know from the Bible, the crowds who cheered that day were jeering Jesus just a few days later. Good Friday is also a part of this story. The good news is that Jesus did not stay dead. He is risen! Included in the narrative is a present day thread where a grandfather talks to his grandson Reilly about this biblical donkey, teaching a lesson about gratitude and contentment. Included are questions to use in discussing the book and biblical support for the answers. A perfect read for this time of year and applicable every day.

[Fran Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta é uma história onde um avô explica para um neto com as pessoas ou animais são sempre chamados para realizar algo, cada um no seu tempo exemplificando através das histórias dos jumentos narrados na bíblia sagrada.
Com nomes e tempos variados, cada jumento teve a sua função a ser cumprida e todos entenderam que apesar do tempo e do que faziam, nenhum deles é melhor do que ninguém, ou seja, o avô ensina ao neto sobre não ser ansioso, ser atencioso, fazer o seu melhor como se fosse pra Deus (que no fim é) e não agir com orgulho e soberba.
Eu esperava apena uma história envolvendo um jumento na bíblia e no fim, fui lembrada de outros jumentos e seus chamados.
No fim ainda contém um a mais explicando alguns pontos da história para que os pais possam ajudar a sanar dúvida dos pequenos.
Ilustrações fofas e linda, esse é um livro que pretendo ter em minha biblioteca física quando for mãe.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theologian, author, professor, and preacher, R.C. Sproul was always amazing at bringing big theological truths from the seminary atmosphere down to the everyday Christian. Here, he imagines a story about the donkey Jesus rode on for Palm Sunday, sandwiching it within a contemporary story of a sad boy who never gets picked on teams by his peers. Creative and beautiful, especially when listening to the audiobook (read by Sproul) while following along with the physical book.

Age recommendation: long, so probably best for preschoolers through elementary, depending on attention level (though it can be read during several sittings)

[Dirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

RC Sproul explains how selfdenial is the calling for everyone saved by Jesus’ death on the cross. The book concludes with 3 pages describing the background and the deeper meaning of the story.

Nice book to teach children gratitude, but it surprises me to find a book with basically the same message that was published 7 years earlier: Duncan carries a king. A donkey’s tale, by Dan Taylor. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Is this an existing story that both authors retold in their own words?

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet children’s audio book read by the author about a young donkey named Davey who feels left out because he is overlooked by the master for jobs. He listens to stories about other donkeys in history and dreams of someday being chosen. Finally the master chooses him to carry a man who is hailed as the king as he enters Jerusalem. Davey feels validated and important when he learns this is Jesus. Later he struggles to be content when chosen for jobs of manual labor. He complains, but receives instruction on being content with whatever jobs are given and the need to do his best.

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, how I wanted to love this book. The illustrations and story idea were great. It includes important biblical facts about donkeys in the bible and details of Jesus’s life. It includes the gospel message and encourages a servant’s heart but the story ended up being woefully tedious to read. Wordy. Corny. Davey the Donkey?! It was an awkward read-aloud. Too many decent preachers and theologians trying to be writers. Stop it!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. There is absolutely much to be appreciated about it, but it has the feel of a book that was written for adults and disguised as a picture book - some older kiddos may do well with it, but WAY too many words per page for a younger kiddo. If this book was scaled back a little, it would be a wonderful book to read during Easter season.

The illustrations and overall intention of the book are very sweet.

[Kyndra Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated gospel book that we read with our school studies. It has simple truths about contentment and doing our best with all tasks, and it also has sound teaching in the back of the book about understanding the biblical points in the story.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

[Dyllan Avery-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davey is his name which I mess with. In high school baseball they called me Davery, so I was invested in this dude. Super cute, very clear illustration of the importance of humility and being a servant of all from the perspective of a donkey. R.C. is a legend, if you have a young child, read this to them.

[Sandu Andronic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelentă! Cartea incapsulează cu succes esența slujirii creștine, aplicând exemplul suprem al Domnului Isus. Apoi, folosind o întâmplare relatată în Scriptură - intrarea Domnului Isus în Ierusalim pe un măgăruș - Sproul le prezintă copiilor ideea că slujirea este un privilegiu înalt, un har și o responsabilitate care trebuie îndeplinită cu credincioșie, fără cârtire și cu multă seriozitate.

[dannielly souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesse livro vamos de encontro com a história do menino Joãozinho e do jumentinho Girico, ambos se sentiam inferiores por serem tratados com diferença por seus iguais.

Mas é a partir disso que Deus nos chama para fazer a diferença e servi-lo, seja fazendo um pequeno trabalho ou uma tarefa muito importante.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my little ones before Easter! They are all under 3 years old so it was a bit much for their little minds to comprehend but they enjoyed the illustrations! It’s on the shelf to be read year round in our home!

[Josie Siler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the overall message of this book. It teaches kids to try their best and work hard, even the job you’ve been given isn’t that glamorous. I did feel like the author was trying to include too many things in one book.