Customer Reviews

The Crippled Lamb: Collector's Edition

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful! They capture my children's attention and even I can't turn the page without looking at the artwork. They story is equally as beautiful. It is about a small lamb who doesn't feel he belongs because he is not as "perfect" as the other lambs. He has a tremendous friend, named Abigail, who always reminds him that "God has a special place for those who don't belong." I cannot count the times this book as been read to teach my children how to be a friend to someone "different" or how to stand the trials of being the one who is not like everyone else. It is a touching story that no matter how many times you read, will choke you up and bring tears to your eyes. Abigale and Joshua will remind you of how special God creates each of us and how important we each are in "life". This is a must read book

I am an author and I collect children's books, thus I feel my taste in children's books is very discerning. This is one of the most beautiful books - in pictures, content, and spirit - that I have ever seen. This is one 'Christmas' book that does not get packed away for 11 months of the year - it stays on my bookshelf the year through. My husband and I have read it each Christmas Eve, and I now read it to my 4-month old daughter a few times a month. This book would be a wonderful gift to children in families who may not have a personal relationship with Jesus. I gain blessings and appreciation anew each time I read this story.

Max Lucado is a "master illustrator." He artistically paints pictures with words and "The Crippled Lamb" is no disappointment!

Little Joshua, a lamb, feels so different from others. He bears spots while others don't. He doesn't have a mom or dad. He can't run, jump and play like the others, for he has a bad leg. Often feeling down on himself, he finds encouragement in a friend named Abigail, an aging cow.

Then one unexpected night, Joshua finds that there is a specialness about his differences. There is a unique role only he can fill.

Get the tissues ready! This is a book sure to move even the hardest heart. How vividly it portrays the love of a Father Who loves us inspite of our blemishes and sees each one of His children as special, with purpose!

Beautifully illustrated by Liz Bonham, this is a work you should not miss. This one is a "keeper" you'll wish to pass on from generation to generation.

After reading this book, my 10-year old daughter asked to start a family tradition of reading this book and the like on Christmas Eve to remind us why we come together on this holiday. Two years later, we now have children (of all ages) who want to participate in the reading marathon on Christmas Eve. This is a great book to add to your collection.

This book has become a part of my family's Christmas traditions
each year. It's a wonderful story of the birth of Christ as seen
through the eyes of Joshua, a lamb that has been crippled since
birth. Not only does the author focus upon the true meaning of
Christmas. It teaches a simple and very important lesson about life. Everyone can make a contribution to life, even if they are
handicapped. Through this story, children can be taught the
significance of being thankful for having a strong body and mind,
and of being kind to people who are less fortunate. The message is a simple one, and my daughter readily understood it the first
time we read the story. She was four years old then. Both of us
cry as we share the book together and are reminded that there
truly are some things that money can't buy! You will love this book!

The Crippled Lamb is probably the most moving story I have read in quite some time. I had read it on the internet, but when I received the book, it somehow seemed different. I read it to my granddaughters tonight and with some difficulty kept the tears from coming. This book shows children (and adults) that it isn't always hard to be different. Joshua was surely different, but being different was the best thing that happened to him. God has a plan for everyone, even those of us who feel left out. I can't think of a better way to teach children of God's love for each and everyone of us. For that matter, I can't think of a simpler way to teach adults the same thing. My granddaughters loved the book and the CD. Almost as much as I do.

And I totally disagree with what "Advocate" says about the use of the word "Crippled" in the title.

If this book had been talking about human children, I would be inclined to agree with him or her, however, on millions of farms in North America (and in the U.K.) "crippled" is a perfectly acceptable descriptive term for certain features of livestock. "Lame", "blighted", and "poor stock" are also used. So what? We cannot endlessly restructure our language and reassign meanings and words in order to try to sugarcoat and "brush away" the harsh reality of a disability and I, as a disabled person (deaf) deeply resent attempts to do so. When you cry "foul" at each possible non-politically-correct word and phrase, you drag the disabled out of their longed-for anonymity and showcase us as poor pitiful people who have to be coddled and protected from the strong and powerful in our world. Enough.

I agree that certain words have a strong, negative picture associated with them and might be reconsidered for use as applied to human beings (but I couldn't care less if someone called my three-legged dog crippled. She is!). However, I would also like to suggest for your consideration that perhaps an early introduction to such words within a considerate and safe environment such as story time with Mom and Dad, is a good thing from this point of view: the first time one hears these words, is it better for there to be an explanation of good words and not so nice words at hand, or is it better for their first exposure to a harsh word be in a playground, while they are alone and feeling attacked?

I vote for my child to be in my lap at the time so I could explain it to him. And I vote for teaching children that words only have the power that we give to them.

THE CRIPPLED LAMB is quickly becoming a new Christmas classic for children. It tells the story of the birth of Christ through the eyes of Joshua, a little lamb. Joshua is disabled and therefore unable to graze in the fields since he cannot keep up with the others. He has to stay behind with his friend, Abigail the cow who tries to cheer him up by telling him "God has a special place for those who feel left out." Joshua has the opportunity to be part of God's plan when Jesus is born. Mary and Joseph do not have a blanket and Joshua sits next too the child to offer him warmth and be a blanket for the Christ child.

This book is a collaborative effort of well known Christian author Max Lucado and his three daughters Jenna, Andrea, and Sara. The book also contains beautiful artwork by illustrator Liz Bonham. The artwork alone is worth the price of the book.

If you are planning on purchasing this book as a gift, I recommend purchasing at least tow copies. It is such a wonderful and heartwarming book, you may not want to give it away.

Joshua is a little lamb with a game leg. He has trouble keeping up with the rest of the flock and is often mocked by his fellow sheep. Even the shepherd tells Joshua to remain behind while he leads the other sheep to greener pastures.

Abigail, a wise and gentle cow, reminds Joshua that there is always a place for those who are different. She accepts Joshua without question and the two friends seek shelter in an old manger.

Joshua and Abigail meet the Holy Family and Mary introduces her Son as the Gift and the Answer. It is through the Infant Jesus that Joshua realizes that Abigail was right all along -- he really DID have a place where he really belonged. Had he been able to join the flock, he would never have shared the stable with the Holy Family. It is to Max Lucado and his daughters' credit that the story does not end with the predictable healing of Joshua's game leg. Instead, Joshua is loved, respected and truly cherished because in feeling he had to little to give, he really gave a lot. He gave to Baby Jesus.

I really love this book.

This is a beautiful story of how we are loved and acceptable to God even though we are imperfect creatures. The gist of the story is the crippled lamb was not allowed "to run with the herd", but was very welcome in the stable where the Baby Jesus was born. He was honored above all lambs by being in the presence of such a gift as the Christ Child.

So many children have low self-esteem. This book offers a boost. The crippled lamb would have been totally out as a sacrifice in ancient Judea, but he was totally in the circle of Jesus's love.

The illustrations are excellent. This book is a new classic in Christmas literature.