LEAH'S STAR

Leah, the daughter of an innkeeper, leaves the busy Bethlehem market and notices a silver star above her home; might the shining beacon herald something wonderful?

Roman emperor Augustus has called for a census of the entire Roman world, and many people crowd the streets of Bethlehem in order to be counted. Mesmerized by the bright star, Leah accidentally bumps into the donkey of two pilgrims. The man, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, are in need of a place to safely deliver their baby. When Leah’s father notices the woman’s condition, he offers the couple the use of his stable and calls for a neighbor to help Mary. After the baby is born, Leah marvels at the shepherds who visit the child claiming that angels told them he was their long-awaited king and at scholars (not magi) who travel a great distance to present the infant with gifts fit for a king. Though Leah does not factor into the biblical account of the Nativity, readers familiar with the story will find its integrity intact and Leah an accessible, credible witness. The painterly illustrations are presented in cool, vivid colors, depicting the characters with olive skin and dark hair. The characters' faces are expressive, especially the final image of Leah with the baby Jesus. This book pairs well with Katherine Paterson and Lisa Aisato’s The Night of His Birth (2019).

An uplifting variation of the Nativity story.