Brother Francis and the Friendly Beasts - Hardcover

Hodges, Margaret

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684191733 ISBN 13: 9780684191737

Publisher: Atheneum, 1991

Synopsis

A young man rejects his wealthy background to lead a life of poverty and good works, always befriending animals

About this title

Reviews

Grade 2-4-- A superficial biography of Saint Francis of Assisi, here always called Brother Francis. Born to wealth and ease (his birthdate is never given), Francis became aware of poverty and want after an illness. Leaving home, he adopted the life of wandering preacher, finding joy in all of nature's creatures. There is no attempt at an understanding of the man's character, nor of his religious inclinations (except for his reenactment of the birth of Christ using the animals and peasants of his village to act out Biblical roles), nor a probe into his motivations for the choice of his lifestyle. Lewin's somber full-color watercolors give a feeling of time and place. However, the sudden shift from a young Francis to an elderly monk, totally unexplained in either text or illustration, is unsettling. Children interested in this man will find little to enlighten them here. --Eva Elisabeth Von Ancken, Trinity Pawling School, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Francis has been born into a wealthy family in Assisi. Increasingly troubled by the intense poverty around him, the lad sells some family items and gives the money to a poor church. Francis's father is disgraced by his son's actions and orders him to leave home with nothing but a coarse robe. Stripped of his worldly possessions, Brother Francis is free to walk the roads of Italy helping the needy, preaching God's word and befriending the animals. Hodges writes with reverence, drawing the kind man's portrait by skillfully weaving together the many legends surrounding his life and times. Lewin captures in fine detail the old Italian villages and the countryside's verdant, natural beauty. His watercolors of colorfully frocked peasants and sun-washed stonework recall Sargent's work in this medium. Ages 6-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the elegant, manuscript-style lettering against a serene expanse of blue sky on its lovely title spread, this is a thoughtfully conceived, exquisitely rendered book. In her usual graceful, lucid style, Hodges describes Francis's early concern for the poor, his decision to join them as an itinerant brother, his love for animals, and the crˆche he made with the help of the humble folk of Greccio. Using watercolors to create dappled impressionistic landscapes, subtly defined portraits, and enough touches of period detail to catch the flavor of 13th-century Italy, Lewin contributes paintings rich in variety and beguiling effects, such as a cloudlike herd of sheep by starlight. Beautiful bookmaking, fine book. (Biography. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0684191733
• ISBN 13: 9780684191737
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Lewin Ted
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32