"America's foremost explainer of animal feelings and thoughts has woven fur and scent into the Christmas story, with amusing and moving results." -John Updike "A charming, Kiplingesque story to cozy up with at Christmas." -Diane Ackerman "Really, really good....It has one quality you can't fake; a certain mysterious magic, a sense of wonder and awe." -The New York Times Book Review

NEW!!  Get an ornament with this design!  By special permission, we are offering an ornament with this lovely cover design!  Go There!

"...this resonant tale by one of our most gifted storytellers and most perceptive animal watchers. When an unusual star appears on the horizon one clear winter night, among those drawn to its bright promise are to shepherds - a dog named Lila and Ima, a goat.  Therein lies an adventure. With their flock, the animals journey to Bethlehem and home again...their journey becomes an extraordinary meditation...on the nature of freedom and the state of natural grace in a world rule by the power-and frailty-of humankind." 

"Because Ima was intelligent and experienced and had learned, from her mother and aunts, everything a goat needs to know about living in the hills, she was forced by her master, who lived in the valley below, to stay with his young sheep as their guardian. He trusted her to bring them to wild pastures where the best grass grew, he trusted her to know the herbs that would help the young sheep if they were sick, and he trusted her to watch the comings and goings of the birds and the deer so she could find water hidden in the rocks.  Ima did all that and more, more than her master ever knew."

Thomas is the author of "The Hidden Life of Dogs". As noted in the passage above, Thomas  has the ability to capture the "being" of the dog and the goat, as well as the other animals depicted in this story.  A moving story for Christmas reading...as well as year-round enjoyment!  Opposite is the author with goat in lap!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE!