Jacki Kellum

“Children will experience the first Christmas through new eyes in this incredibly moving story of the Nativity, told by the gentle but determined donkey that carried Jesus’s parents to Bethlehem. It’s a perfect Christmas gift book for snuggling up and sharing." Random House Children's Books about The Donkey's Song by Jacki Kellum”
― Random House Children's Books

“A rhyming Nativity narrative.

"The donkey who carried Mary to the Nativity calmly focuses on feelings of wonderment surrounding the child’s birth. With huge eyes...the little donkey is utterly adorable. Lines like “a bit of tingle-my-toes. / That’s how the evergreen / smelled to me, / a bit of fresh pine to my nose” offer opportunities for caregivers to extend the reading to sensory activities, though the scent of pine doesn’t seem historically accurate. An uncluttered stable features friendly, curious barn animals that greet baby Jesus along with the three Wise Men. Told in verse, the tale evokes a tender, pleasant mood. ...“I lifted my head / above His hay bed // …and sang of this morning of grace.” Jesus, referred to as “the Baby” and “the Babe,” is tan-skinned, as are his parents. Two of the Wise Men are light-skinned, while one is darker-skinned. A gentle, spare tale, part bedtime story, part Christmas fare. (Picture book. 2-5)" Kirkus Reviews”
― Jacki Kellum, The Donkey's Song: A Christmas Nativity Story

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Sleepy but Strong, I clip-clopped along,
To rest in a stable of straw.
No room for a bed, I stood near instead,
And listened and sniffed as I saw." Jacki Kellum from her picture book The Donkey's Song - Random House Children's Books - 2022”
― Jacki Kellum