THE BEASTS OF BETHLEHEM

In the manner of De Gasztold's Prayers from the Ark, 19 carefully fashioned short poems, in the voices of the traditional Nativity animals plus some unexpected others—snail, hummingbird, worm, mosquito, and a cat that, this once, forbears chasing mice. These aren't cute or sentimentalized ``friendly beasts''; each has a point of view appropriate to its species, with responses to the Christ Child ranging from the earthworm's ignoring the miracle taking place above him to the failing old donkey, rejuvenated by his ``sacred burden.'' McCurdy's full-page scratchboard portraits give much the same effect as his customary medium, tinted wood engravings; their deep shadows and subtle textures are skillfully achieved with hatched lines and stippling. Serious, reverent, and handsomely designed. (Poetry/Picture book. 8+)