The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul

Reilly is a young boy who is feeling down because the other boys pick him last while playing games. Reilly’s grandfather tells him this story to cheer him up:

Davey the Donkey was young, so he watched the other donkeys doing work while he was stuck in the pen. The older donkeys told him stories about famous donkeys of history like Balaam’s donkey and Barnabas, the old donkey who had carried Mary to Bethlehem.

Then one day, two strangers came and asked to take Davey for a little while. They led Davey down the road to a man named Jesus. They put coats on Davey’s back and Jesus road Davey down the street. Davey heard the people calling Jesus a king and he was very excited that he had been chosen to carry such an important person.

Davey was brought back to his owner and then started regular work like the other donkeys. Davey was very upset that he had to do such boring, regular jobs like the others. He thought he was much better suited for special jobs, like carrying kings. Later in the week, Davey was near the street when he heard lots of people that sounded upset. Davey realized the person they were angry with was Jesus, the king he had carried only a few days before. Davey saw Jesus carrying the cross and then fall down. Davey was then led away.

He was very confused and sad about what he saw. He told old Barnabas about what he saw. Barnabas told Davey that Jesus was going to die to save His people; He was being a servant to others. Davey decided that if the king could carry a cross, he wouldn’t complain about carrying olives.

When Reilly’s grandpa finished, he asked Reilly to be thankful that he had been picked to play at all, even if he was chosen last. He also tells Reilly to be content with whatever job God gives him to do. Grandpa finishes by telling Reilly that Jesus paid the price we deserve because he was a king and a servant.

This is a beautiful story not just about Easter, but contentment in God’s will for your life. There are really big ideas in this book that might be slightly hard for little ones to grasp but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be read to them.

We never know exactly how much truth gets through to little ones, so this is a great book to read every year around Easter or any time of the year and expand the conversation as they grow. It’s a bit longer for a picture book so prepare your child(ren) beforehand or read it in chunks. A beautiful addition to your home collection that I highly recommend!

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There are questions and scriputre included at the back of the book!