The Little Drummer Boy is a 1968 Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass, based on the famous Christmas song of that name. The story, written by Romeo Muller, is based on the famous Christmas song of that name in which a poor young boy is summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he plays his drum while remembering "I played my best for Him" and "He smiled at me". The special expands on this limited story to include events before the birth of Jesus. In the special, the narrator (Greer Garson) tells of young Aaron who is a misanthropic orphan who only finds enjoyment from playing his drum for his friends Samson (a donkey), Babba (a sheep), and Joshua (a camel). Forced to join Ben Haramad's circus, due to his playing causing the three animals to dance, the group later escapes and joins up with the Three Wise Men's caravan who are on their way to Bethlehem. There, Babba is hit by a Roman chariot and Aaron takes the sheep to Jesus to be healed. Feeling gratitude after being shown kindness for the first time in his life, and having no gift to bring the baby, Aaron plays his drum to entertain Jesus and His family.