This is a simple adaptation of the fifteenth-century Second Shepherd's Play from the Wakefield Cycle. Through the centuries this robust tale of the shepherds on the first Christmas Eve has delighted young and old. When a lamb is missing from their flock, the shepherd's suspect Mak and to go search his home.

The secret of the hiding place and how the shepherds find the lost lamb is exciting and humorous. At the same time, this adaptation retains all the reverence of the traditional nativity story.

Roger Duvoisin's authentic and dramatic scenes in beautiful colours make this picture book a rare artistic experience. Story and pictures as presented not only offer lively reading, but give children an opportunity to perform this Nativity story as it was played long ago.

From the dust jacket of The Bodley Head UK edition