Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite

The Innkeeper’s Son by Christine L. Henderson opens with Marcus, the main character, pretending to be an important centurion who rules over toy soldiers. But Marcus’s mother abruptly asks him to bring blankets to their stable, where his father is seeing to new lodgers. At first, Marcus is annoyed that his chores have interrupted his playtime. But when he meets a couple named Mary and Joseph, and their radiant baby, he suddenly feels a surge of happiness. He learns that the infant's name is Jesus. Through the night, he witnesses shepherds, kings, and even angels flocking to the infant, with a bright star guiding them. Song breaks out in the heavens as the angels herald the child, proclaiming that he is the Savior of the World. The story comes full circle when Marcus grows up witnessing Jesus’s miracles. He also becomes a centurion, something he had dreamt about as a boy. One day, he is ordered to oversee the crowds at Jesus’s crucifixion. He recognizes Jesus as the baby who was born in the stable many years ago and kneels to pay him honor.

The Innkeeper’s Son by Christine L. Henderson is a well-written, fresh new take on an age-old Bible story. In only a few pages, the author has created a well-developed, relatable character in Marcus. We follow him from a boy to a man, as he relates to Jesus. Marcus the soldier is so well defined that he seems to be a real person who has been left out of the Bible. Due to its realism, I enjoyed reading this poignant book and believe children will too. I also appreciated the fun activity pages at the end of the story. This book is a thoughtful gift, as I am sure that children and grandchildren will be delighted to learn what life was like for a child during Christ’s time on earth. Complex religious concepts can be challenging for children to comprehend. But they shine through this story, beautifully illustrated by Ayan Mansoori.