Mountain Born (Mountain Born #1)

The lamb must be dead, it seemed, but the old sheepherder, Benj, tried some things he'd learned from his many years with sheep, and the baby lamb stirred. This lamb, Biddy, became the responsibility of young Peter, and he cared for his cosset well. Biddy and Peter grew up together, Biddy to become the leader of the sheep, and Peter, a strong young man.

It's a simple story of a simple life, and it's filled with the deep wisdom that comes from a life caring for sheep.

One of my favorite parts of the story was when Peter had to leave Biddy in the pasture with the others. Biddy bleated as he returned to the house, calling to him, and Peter kept turning back to look at Biddy. Benj advised Peter not to look back, but Peter insisted on continuing to turn back toward his cosset. “I don't care for anything but my cosset,” Peter said stubbornly. Benj wisely told Peter, “There are many things in the world. If we care for them all a little we won't feel the hurt too much when we part with one.”

A 1944 Newbery Honor Book.