Title: Mary Had a Little Lamb
Author: Adrian M. Hurtado
Illustrator: Jayne Koontz
Publisher: Go to Publish
ISBN: 978-1647498603
Pages: 26
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Catholic
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Hollywood Book Reviews
Poet Adrian M. Hurtado has created an engaging story-poem that follows the life of “the little lamb” of his mother Mary – Jesus, whose destiny was to “spread the word of God through miracles and parables.”
The birth of Mary’s child was in itself miraculous:
“Angels summoned shepherds
To go in one accord
To see the newborn Savior
The Lamb, the Christ, the Lord”
The beauty of the manger scene quickly changes to the peril of escaping the wrath of King Herod, who to “put to death every male the new Lamb’s age.” When twelve-year-old Jesus goes missing, Mary is distraught until she finds him conversing “amidst the teachers,” proving his deep knowledge. The biblical incidents in Jesus’ earthly life cited include angels announcing his arrival, his teaching the multitudes and battling Satan, and his betrayal by one of his close disciples. Those who feel threatened by his good works have him condemned, even though, as Hurtado reminds the reader, “no crime was verified.” Jesus’ example, his teaching, and his crucifixion and resurrection result in a worldwide religion: “And still today throughout the world, people seek the Lamb.” Hurtado concludes:
“For Mary’s Lamb has no red suit
No reindeer and no sleigh
But Mary’s Little Lamb is why
We have a Christmas Day”
Hurtado is a retired military major who served in Vietnam and had a lengthy career as a teacher and principal. He clearly wishes to share his ideas with young people, increasing their understanding of the importance of devotion to Jesus. Each portion of the scriptural tale is vividly, emotively built on simple, subtle, well-constructed rhymes. The book’s illustrator, Jayne Koontz, underscores Hurtado’s deftly styled verses through color and form. Accompanying the poem, the reader sees Jesus as a cute child sitting among the church elders, a young man rejecting the temptations of Satan, a teacher sharing his message with others while rays of light emerge from the heavens, and a condemned man exchanging a serious look with Pontius Pilate before hanging on a cross. Hurtado’s work will be a welcome “read-to” for preschool children, an excellent tool for group discussion, and an enjoyable experience for those of any age reading it on their own. Mary Had a Little Lamb is beautifully written and illustrated.