When an extraordinary baby rumored to be the savior of the world is born one winter night, a nearby flock of sheep (each one identified by a single unique—and ridiculous—characteristic) seems to be the last to hear the good tidings. A goat informs them: Their shepherds have gone to see the baby with “long eyelashes” and “gorgeous curly hair” who “doesn’t cry at all” (a girl, obviously, the sheep think). Not wanting to miss out, the sheep set out on a “thrilling night hike,” a meandering journey during which they must repeatedly double back for stragglers. Along the way, other animals inform them that the baby was born in the scrapyard (they why didn’t her parents make a reservation at a hotel?) and that gifts are expected (the sheep will have to come up with something, and quickly). By the time they arrive, though, the crowds have left, and the baby boy (“Nobody makes that kind of fuss when a girl is born,” the camel says) is nowhere to be found. The otherwise disappointing holiday is saved, though, when the sheep return home to find the shepherds have gifts for the entire flock—all seven of them. Paralleling the Nativity story, this absurdly silly yet undeniably fresh tale would make a riotous family read-aloud.

Tonight, the sheep can't sleep. The pasture is floodlit by a strange new star and their shepherds have disappeared.

They must have been kidnapped by a UFO—or perhaps they've gone to meet the child rumored to have been born in a stable. The sheep set off to find their shepherds. They'd like to see this child too, and they heard there'll be a party!

The sheep hike across country two by two, so none are lost. During this extraordinary night in Bethlehem, the quarrelsome sheep gradually become a real flock that pulls together.

This amusing retelling of the Christmas story through the eyes of the sheep reinforces the season's theme—be a little nicer to each other, forgive your quarrels, and listen to everybody, especially the children.