About the Book

In the hills outside Bethlehem, Obed guards his first flock of sheep. When the angels appear to tell of the Savior’s birth, he is hesitant to follow the others to see the new Kin. When Obed returns to his sheep, he realizes it is a night of miracles.

The Long Story

I am always excited when a friend of mine gets published, and I was delighted to receive a signed copy of Little Shepherd from my friend Cheryl Malandrinos. This is an extra special occasion, as it is her first book.

Little Shepherd tells the story of young Obed, who must learn the values of trust and faith as he journeys with his father and others to see the newborn Jesus. Though he fears for his flock, he comes back to them and sees that miracles certainly aren’t limited to one per night.

I especially enjoyed this story because I got a real sense of it continuing beyond the book. I finished the book thinking about how, as he grew into a man, Obed would slowly realise just how special that one night of his life was.

While Obed is the main character, I have to admit that – as an adult – I like the character of Obed’s father. He doesn’t give the boy lectures or spell out things for him; he lets Obed come to realise things on his own.

Of course, when you talk about a children’s book, you should mention the artwork. Little Shepherd’s artwork is more detailed and colourful in a way that reminded me of the children’s Bible stories I read as a child. I think children will enjoy the vivid colours and the level of detail gives it the ‘historical’ feel that fits the story.

The Short Story

Little Shepherd is a sweet retelling of the Christmas story from the perspective of a little boy who is just learning about trust and faith. I recommend this book as a lovely holiday children’s read.

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Rating: 4 Stars

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Little Shepherd
By Cheryl C. Malandrinos
http://ccmalandrinos.com/
ISBN: 9781616330859
Length: 8 pages