The Salamander at the Manger | Animal Stories of the Holy Night

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Once upon a time...

A gentle unicorn steps into a Bethlehem stable run by the bossiest of cows. In that humble structure under a bright star, many creatures are awed to greet the Christ child—there's the possum with a song in her heart, the moose that teaches peace, the elephant in search of a new path, and many others.

Like a modern "Carol of the Beasts," The Salamander at the Manger celebrates the wonder of Christmas and the value of welcoming all.

Christmas Menagerie

The menagerie of creatures gathered around the manger—first imagined in Roger L. Robbennolt's The Unicorn at the Manger—expands with Evelyn Robbennolt-Jones's The Salamander at the Manger, including:

• a salamander, outcast from their community;
• a dove who witnessed God's promise;
• a cynical rhinoceros;
• a protective mother bear and her cubs;
• a chipmunk, a capybara, an ostrich, and more!

Read these delightful stories aloud to children to enrich their understanding of God's love. Read them for yourself to nurture your Christmas wonder. Read The Salamander at the Manger to remember God's welcome of all people and creatures.

About the Author

Evelyn Robbennolt-Jones is a lifelong lover of stories and their importance in developing self-awareness, forging new connections, and celebrating the holiness within all of us. A licensed clinical social worker, Evelyn believes the truth of what her father Roger frequently said: "God made us because God loves stories."

2025
United Church Press
Paperback (88 pages)
ISBN 978-0-8298-0121-7