Night of the White Stag - Hardcover

Helldorfer, M.C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385322615 ISBN 13: 9780385322614

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 1999

Synopsis

It is the winter after the king's war, and Finder's father has never returned. On his way to the king's castle to seek food for his starving family, the boy enters a snow covered forest. He loses his way and becomes frightened—even more so when he meets an old man who is madly hunting for a great white stag. The man is blind, haunted by the memories of war. Though Finder doubts that the white stag exists, he guides the hunter in his search. When they finally come upon the wonderous creature, Finder's awe and his traust in all that is good and pure heal the tormented hunter.

Yvonne Gilbert's lyrical illustrations beautifully complement M.C.Helldorfer's magical tale of loss and the redemptive power of faith and love.

About this title

About the Author

M.C. Helldorfer has written numerous books for children and young adults. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Bob, and her cat, Puck.

Yvonne Gilbert is a fine artist and illustrator who has created many covers and jackets for children's books, as well as greeting cards. She previously illustrated Per and the Dala Horse by Rebecca Hickbox (Doubleday). Yvonne Gilbert lives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England.

From Library Journal

Grade 2-4-After a long period of war, from which his father has never returned, Finder sets out to petition the king for food and aid for his starving family. He enters the forest and discovers a blind old hunter who tells him that he can barely hear or smell since he lost his son in the war. The boy unwillingly leads the man on his hunt and helps him find a white stag, the likes of which had not been seen in a hundred years. When the animal is wounded by the old man's spear, its blood heals the hunter, who turns out to be the king. The miraculously cured monarch is then able to resume his leadership role and take care of his subjects. Double-page illustrations done in colored pencil are reminiscent of the work of Jan Brett. They are realistically and gracefully rendered, vaguely medieval, and are adorned with side panels that contain additional art and text framed by Scandinavian patterns and motifs. There is a folkloric quality to this quixotic tale, but its many symbols and strands never come together in a cohesive way.
Tracy Taylor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0385322615
• ISBN 13: 9780385322614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Gilbert Yvonne