The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebanks

Flatiron Books, 304 pages, $25.99

This is not a mystery. But it is the perfect winter’s tale: “All Creatures Great and Small” with just sheep.

If you chance upon Lake District (England) shepherd James Rebanks’ Twitter feed (@herdyshepherd1), it is rife with snowy scenes of and comments about winter. His book, “The Shepherd’s Life,” takes an autobiographical journey through a year in the intricacies of raising sheep in the fells (mostly steep, rocky hills).

I hiked through the Lake District and its fells many years ago and saw more sheep (and sheep pies) than I cared to see again. I probably would not have felt that way had I been able to read this book first.

This book has charmed even the toughest of critics and it has charmed me (a much easier sell).

P.S. Newborn lambs really are irresistibly cute.