The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado, illustrated by Liz Bonham
(Suggested reading level: Ages 4-8)
This story was read aloud during an Advent workshop we attended at our church. It is a perfect Christmas story to share with kids.
Joshua is the crippled lamb of the title. He hates being different from all the other lambs, but he has a special friend, Abigail the cow, who always reminds him that he is special. One night, Joshua has to stay in the stable, because he can’t keep up with the rest of the flock who are heading to a new pasture. That night, though, he is one of the first to meet Jesus, and gets to help him stay warm.
This is a touching story, but not a tear-jerker. The sweet story reminds us that we are all special and that our difficulties can end up being blessings, a wonderful lesson for all of us, not just kids. I wish I had gotten this book a few years ago when Amber was younger. It’s one I can see families reading over and over each year.
The lamb was always my favorite in our manger scene as a kid.