One Small Donkey: A Christmas Story, written by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens, is a children’s book about a little donkey who takes Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The story itself is twenty-five pages long and is geared toward children ages 4 to 8. The time it takes to read aloud is about three minutes – though it may be longer depending on your reading style and how dramatic you make your performance. For example, when Joseph “knock, knock, knocks on every door,” you may stop and pretend to knock or tap on something. The book is 9.2 x 9.2 inches, with smooth, magazine-like pages, though Tommy Nelson has also published a slightly smaller board book version, One Small Donkey for Little Ones.

Each page is fully illustrated, and each of the right-facing pages includes four poetic verses. One page of text says, “One small donkey with a hee-hee-haw! / Cheering at the Savior’s birth / One small donkey with a giant heart / Welcomes Christ, our peace on earth.” Each of the quatrains starts with the words “One small donkey.” The illustrations are slightly reminiscent of old claymation Christmas specials, and many of Miguens’ drawings feature serene blue tones.

You can find One Small Donkey here.