Angels and Donkeys: Tales for Christmas and Other Times

Synopsis
From the Inside Flap

The stories in this collection were told to the children of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon many years ago while France was under siege, occupied by Hitler's troops. The people of the area had formed an underground network for saving refugees, many of them Jewish children.

The rescuers did not know what their neighbors were doing. No one talked. Where did these people find the courage to risk their lives to save strangers? (The people of the Plateau are credited with helping nearly 5,000 refugees, about 3,500 of them Jewish, many of whom are still alive today.)

The stories in this book are part of that story. For the courage to do what one knows one should do is very often sparked by the memory of a story.

These original stories were told by Pastor André Trocmé by the huge lighted tree on Christmas day in the Protestant (Huguenot) church in that small mountain village, during the poverty and anxiety of wartime uncertainty. All knew that death and betrayal surrounded them on every side. Many of the themes in the stories are couched references to the courage one needs in such circumstances.

This marks the first appearance of these stories in English.

Nelly Trocmé Hewett first came to the United States as an au pair girl and remained as a college student. She raised her three children in Minneapolis where she taught French in prep schools. She is presently retired in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Annotation
A collection of tales, many based on stories from the Bible, told by the author, a French minister, around the huge Christmas tree in the church in Le Chambon sur Lignon.

From the Publisher
The stories in this collection were told by Pastor André Trocmé to the children of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon while France was under siege, occupied by Hitler's troops.

The rescuers did not know what their neighbors were doing. No one talked. (The people of the Plateau are credited with helping nearly 5,000 refugees, about 3,500 of them Jewish, many of whom are still alive today.)

These original stories were told by Pastor Trocmé by the huge lighted tree on Christmas in the Protestant (Huguenot) church in that small mountain village, during the poverty and anxiety of wartime uncertainty. Everyone knew that death and betrayal surrounded them. Many of the themes in the stories are couched references to the courage one needs in such circumstances.

This marks the first appearance of these stories in English. Excellent for both children and adults. Great to read aloud.

"A stirring and valorous work!" -Publishers Weekly

From the Critics
From Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature  
The history of these stories is as interesting as the stories themselves. They were written by Pastor André Trocmé, who told them to the children of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon during the Nazi occupation of France. The brave people of this town were responsible for saving refugees, many of them Jewish children. Not only are these stories of Christmas, they were told to inspire and bolster the courage and righteousness of the villagers. A collection that should be read aloud and one that might be quite useful for Sunday school programs. The Pastor's stories have been translated by his daughter who later emigrated to the U.S.