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St.Is: The First Book
An ancient donkey and a strong-willed, good-hearted maid, both chosen to carry the Messiah in their own way, lead you through the Christmas story like you’ve never read it before.Meet Issy the she-donkey, Mary’s beloved companion. Meet Mary of Nazareth, capable and trusting in the Most High despite a family that sometimes makes her life difficult. Meet fiery angels and a just young man named Joe who finds himself dropped in the most extraordinary of circumstances requiring all the faith he has.St.Is presents time-honored characters in all their humanness, a donkey that represents us all, our wanderings and our ponderings, and invites us to watch in wonder the workings of a God who transcends time and meets us all in the form of a baby born in Bethlehem.“St.Is tells the story of Jesus' birth from the unique perspective of Issy, Mary’s delightful and loyal donkey. Told with delight and whimsy, St.Is is Biblical truth wrapped in narrative brilliance. The first of a series of books, St.Is will stir your imagination and whet your appetite for more.”~ Bryce Ashlin-Mayo, Lead Pastor of Westlife Church and author of Digital A Practical Guide for Ministry Online.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2020
About the author
Lisa Samson
64 books194 followersThe Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.
Also, published under the name L.L. Samson
Also, published under the name L.L. Samson
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 14, 2020
Upfront disclaimer: Len Sweet is my husband's uncle and, therefore, family.
I really, really enjoyed this Christmas story as told by "St. Is", the donkey charged with bearing the Messiah and, as a result, his mother. The story itself is charming, weaving in true emotion and sharing a view of Mary and Joseph as people, really young people, who are dealing with a situation that no one has faced before and the consequences to themselves, their families and their lives before folks were aware of how the story would turn out. Providing us with a beast of burden as narrator is an intriguing choice that pays off in the lack of suppositions and attributions of feelings beyond some of the simplest: faith, love, hope, loyalty.
The writing and structure are engaging and the pictures are beautiful. As with much of Sweet's writing, the choice to have faith is presented as both incredibly simple and profoundly rich; a dichotomy that is challenging to present but which comes across through the story. We are not pounded over the head with a message but treated to a story that bears emotion and thoughtfulness.
I've shared the book with my children (my daughter read the title including "The First Book" and immediately asked about the second without even cracking the spine...but that's her reading MO) and hope they will come back to me with questions and conversation to be discussed during this holiday season. Highly recommend for families and for those who want to remember the sweetness (pun not intended) of the Christmas story. That, at heart, it speaks to love and family whether one considers the "small family" (as my kids call our home-based nuclear family) or the greater family of those who have faith.
I really, really enjoyed this Christmas story as told by "St. Is", the donkey charged with bearing the Messiah and, as a result, his mother. The story itself is charming, weaving in true emotion and sharing a view of Mary and Joseph as people, really young people, who are dealing with a situation that no one has faced before and the consequences to themselves, their families and their lives before folks were aware of how the story would turn out. Providing us with a beast of burden as narrator is an intriguing choice that pays off in the lack of suppositions and attributions of feelings beyond some of the simplest: faith, love, hope, loyalty.
The writing and structure are engaging and the pictures are beautiful. As with much of Sweet's writing, the choice to have faith is presented as both incredibly simple and profoundly rich; a dichotomy that is challenging to present but which comes across through the story. We are not pounded over the head with a message but treated to a story that bears emotion and thoughtfulness.
I've shared the book with my children (my daughter read the title including "The First Book" and immediately asked about the second without even cracking the spine...but that's her reading MO) and hope they will come back to me with questions and conversation to be discussed during this holiday season. Highly recommend for families and for those who want to remember the sweetness (pun not intended) of the Christmas story. That, at heart, it speaks to love and family whether one considers the "small family" (as my kids call our home-based nuclear family) or the greater family of those who have faith.
December 22, 2020
Unique Christmas Story
The authors blend the scriptural accounts of the birth of Jesus with imagination that brings to light so much of the meaning of what God was doing in the leading up to and the birth of God's son. This is not a simple tale of Christmas and yet it is easily accessible to readers who enjoy a good story.
The authors blend the scriptural accounts of the birth of Jesus with imagination that brings to light so much of the meaning of what God was doing in the leading up to and the birth of God's son. This is not a simple tale of Christmas and yet it is easily accessible to readers who enjoy a good story.
February 27, 2021
A delightful, spiritual exploration of the Advent and Christmas story through the donkey
July 7, 2025
St. Is by Lisa Samson is a sweet and imaginative story told from the perspective of an unlikely but deeply endearing narrator—a humble donkey who had the privilege of being “with Jesus.” Through his eyes, we experience the wonder of living close to the Savior and playing a small but meaningful role in the greater narrative of His life and ministry.
With warmth, wit, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, this "tail" offers a fresh, heartfelt look at the gospel story. It’s both whimsical and poignant, reminding us that even the lowliest among us can be part of something holy, noble, and great.
With warmth, wit, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, this "tail" offers a fresh, heartfelt look at the gospel story. It’s both whimsical and poignant, reminding us that even the lowliest among us can be part of something holy, noble, and great.
June 5, 2021
I CAnnot wait for the next book
What a beauriful read. It's not often that a book simply delights me, and i'm a voracious reader. This is a wonderfully written book with our heroine being the Very special donkey of Mary, mother of Jesus. I've always loved the humble donkey. Now I totally adore them. You must read this book. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
What a beauriful read. It's not often that a book simply delights me, and i'm a voracious reader. This is a wonderfully written book with our heroine being the Very special donkey of Mary, mother of Jesus. I've always loved the humble donkey. Now I totally adore them. You must read this book. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews