Ulrich Hub (text), and Jörg Mühle (illustrator), One Wise Sheep, Gecko Press, September 2024, 88 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk) ISBN 9781776575961
This is an untraditional Christmas story (it says so on the cover).
Told from an often-unheard-of character point of view, this story unfolds with humour, chaos and a lot of tidings.
The shepherds have gone missing, and seven sheep are in a state. Do they stay safe in the field to avoid any UFO kidnappings, or go and see the newborn baby lying in a manger?
After all, surely, SHE would be delighted to see a flock of sheep on her debut night!
Ulrich Hub brings us a hilarious retelling of the birth of the baby Jesus, narrated by the sheep. As a junior fiction book for upper primary this has all the makings of a winning read, and at an easy 88 pages is great encouragement for independent readers. There is fun, action, and a whole lot of comedy. If readers know the original nativity story, they will be laughing out loud and that makes for a very memorable read. The sprinkle of cartoon-like illustrations by Jörg Mühle is just enough to enhance the reading experience and highlight the humour.
The broader message is, of course, seasonal with kindness and forgiveness at the fore, as well as friendship, celebration and pure enlightenment:
…if the baby is going to be the saviour of the world, being born amongst the poorest of the poor is a good start. Maybe the good tidings are that money and riches aren’t that important.
One wise sheep, translated from German, is a witty and clever collaboration, reminding us of the magic (and chaos!) of Christmas.
Reviewed by Shelley Stephens
