The Donkey's Gift

by Thomas M. Coffey, Hal Just (Illustrator)

A strong, rebellious donkey with a checkered career is sold to a man named Joseph, and during a journey to Bethlehem proves a great help to him and his pregnant wife Mary.

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Fiction

180 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 1984

About the author

A former critic for the Los Angeles Mirror, Thomas Coffey grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, studied at the University of Wisconsin and served as a pilot in the Pacific during World War II.

Reviews

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful read around Christmas time.
I buy used copies as Christmas every year and send to friends who I think have a sense of humour to enjoy it.

[Thea Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas story from the donkey's view. A favorite!

[Vita Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should have been made into a Christmas cartoon movie

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merits chuckles. Similar to the movie The Star, except Joseph is _really_ saintly, even more than Mary. The illustrations are delightfully incongruous. Joseph and Mary look like they could go on a stained-glass window; the other characters, in a cartoon. Asinus the donkey has to protect Mary and Joseph against three stooges along the way to Bethlehem. Great children’s story, and while not strictly Biblically accurate in its details (Joseph, being a man, probably didn’t help with Mary’s birth; Joseph didn’t just meet Mary and like her, the marriage was likely arranged; Joseph probably worked with stone, not wood), it makes clever use of Biblical Easter eggs here and there—for example, in the last line of the story, Asinus decides he’d like to teach the baby to ride. Fun read, can recommend, and all that.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about The Donkey's Gift. It follows the story of Asinus, a rebellious donkey who ends up carrying Mary on her journey to Bethlehem. Its take on Joseph's and Mary's relationship is unique (in my reading experience, at lease) and feels "off" to me, though that could simply be based in the tradition that I was raised in, rather than any contradiction to the Biblical account.

The girls enjoyed the slapstick nature of the story, and I enjoyed the author's storytelling style and vocabulary. Not my favorite of the Christmas books we've read this year, but one that we will likely return to in future years.

[Marko Boleyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genial, como la primera vez que lo leí, este libro nos cuenta la historia que ya sabemos de José y María pero con un tono interesante ya que es contado pero desde el punto de vista del burro, de como va cambiando de actitud ante unos dueños que lo tratan bien y no como los que tuvo antes, sus intentos de escapar y como poco a poco se va encariñando con ellos, muy bonito y navideño.

[Charlene Clevenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a Reader's Digest Condensed Book. It's so sweet and fun! I used to read it every Christmas.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun Christmas story (for kids) told from the perspective of the donkey who carried Mary to Bethlehem.

[Lynda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a Reader’s Digest Condensed Book several years ago and have reread it several times since. This gives a different perspective to an age old story and I love it!

[Terresa Uzzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My ALL time favorite in the world Christmas story. I have read it out loud to my family nearly every year as we travel!!!!

[Gabriel Knepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun light Christmas story read written from the donkeys perspective.

[Kathleen Kilmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom gave me this book. I poo poohed it first, but read it with my students in mind. Well, I loved it! AND it actually has a lot of good vocabulary, sadly missing in our modern young adult books. It's a pretty quick read, and a charming old fashioned Christmas tale perfect for the holidays or anytime. For teens or adults. Give it a try if you can find it. You will be charmed. I'm giving it 5 stars which I rarely do, as BEST IN CLASS. Thank you Mr. Coffey.

From Wiki:
"2000: Thomas M. Coffey, a biographer and historian, died on Feb. 24 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. of cancer. He was 78. A native of Aberdeen, S.D., Mr. Coffey grew up in Madison, Wis., studied at the University of Wisconsin and elsewhere and was a military pilot in the Pacific during World War II. In his early years as a writer he was a critic for the old Los Angeles Mirror. "

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas story told from the Donkey's perspective. He was grumpy and bitter at first, then softened with the power he felt from Joseph, Mary, and the Baby Jesus. A sweet tale for the holiday season.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this book right before Christmas... it is a Holiday tradition!

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Donkey's Gift, Thomas M. Coffey, RDC-M, #5-85, 1987. A strong rebellious donkey with a checked career is sold to a man named Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary to travel to Bethlehem. Okay.

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story for kids. Loved the side of the donkey at the birth of Christ.