Maddie O'Brien's Christmas Donkeys — Gary McCarthy

Growing up on a small ranch without a mother hasn't been all that easy for only-child Maddie O'Brien. Her father, scarred by war emotionally and physically is kind, but very withdrawn. Her grandfather, Otis, is funny and wise but a confirmed bachelor who is completely content to tend to their livestock and endlessly re-tell old stories. As another difficult Christmas season approaches, Maddie O'Brien is hoping for something special to bring joy into their lives. And then one snowy winter night a small band of abandoned and hungry donkeys appears at their barn door braying for food and comfort. HEE-haw. HEE-haw. HEE-haw. They are achingly cute, sweet and there is even a little one among them, but where could they have come from? And why did they find Maddie O'Brien? This is a heartwarming story about how magical donkeys transformed the lives of the entire O'Brien family in ways that Maddie could have never even dared to dream. Whether you're young or old, Maddie O'Brien's Christmas Donkeys will bring a smile to your face.