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shepherd, Thaddeus. It includes a touch of fantasy, which will appeal to young readers today. He spends a cold night in the hills above Bethlehem with his older brothers as they watch over their family's sheep. All is calm until the wondrous appearance of a host of angels brings the message the Messiah has been born. While his brothers leave immediately for Bethlehem, Thaddeus remains behind to care for his sickly pet sheep, Little One. His sadness over having to stay is soon forgotten when another miraculous appearance brings him face to face with two of Israel's greatest leaders and a surprising visit to the stable. While many of his questions are answered, he's left with many more.
This story teaches children the truth of the first Christmas, presenting the opportunity for discussion about Jesus and the meaning of His birth. Enhanced by beautiful illustrations, parents and grandparents will enjoy sharing The Littlest Shepherd with children ages 4-12.
About the author
The first draft of The Littlest Shepherd was written more than 20 years ago. However, Laverne put it aside due to life events and rediscovered it last year after becoming active once again with a local writers' group. Her desire is to tell the story of the first Christmas from a fresh perspective, which she hopes will appeal to young readers and initiate questions and discussion.
Laverne is a member of First Baptist Church of Universal City, Texas, and volunteers in the church library. She is also a member of the Christian Writers Group of Greater San Antonio and the Writing for Him critique group. She has contributed devotions for her church annual Christmas advent books. Her short story Is Your Life a Fairy Tale? was published in Stories of Roaring Faith, Volume 2, by Roaring Lambs Ministries. Her life currently centers around two grown sons, two daughters-in-love, three grandchildren, and her fur baby, Sophie. An avid baker, she also enjoys painting, reading and genealogy. She's looking forward to writing her next book.
