Book Description

Renowned art historian and television personality, Sister Wendy documents the lives and works of over 40 of the world's best--loved saints with her unique blend of humor and spiritual insight. Her reflections bring to life illuminated manuscripts, miniatures, and icons, dating back to the seventh century. The works depict people of great spirituality from the humble humanity of St. Anthony the Hermit to the courageous dignity of St. Agatha and the virgin martyrs. Sister Wendy's eloquent text discusses the art, while also chronicling the lives and ordeals of each saint, their feast days, iconographic emblems and the subjects of their patronage. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

wonderful pictures and stories!!!
Sister Wendy has put together a great book on Saints. I really enjoyed that she placed the saint's feast day, attributes, and what the saint is a patron to in the margins. Lovely stories and paintings. It's only fault is that it could have been much longer with more saints included.

Great, but I wanted so much more!
A beautifully constucted book for as far as it goes, but we Sister Wendy lovers are left wanting more! If anything, it seems too small in scale. Like a delicious meal that we're only allowed to take a couple bites of. This is actually a great thumbnail introduction to saints for all us non-Catholics. The usual great paintings with Sister Wendy's wonderful, insightful commentaries. But we wish for bigger visual and literary feast. Everything about the book is small scale. Some of the illustrations should have been blown up to a larger size. We wish Sister Wendy would have gone on longer in her commentaries. At 93 pages, we wish for at least 100 more. She shouldn't have limited her selections to paintings from just one Italian exhibition. For all its brevity, I highly recommend the book. Lasty, don't pass up any chance to snag a copy of the video version of this book which aired on PBS.

GOD BLESS SISTER WENDY!
Sister Wendy Beckett is a gifted story teller and artist. Her delightful paintings and her wonderfully original expressions bring Catholicism to all readers. This delightful book is truly one of a kind. Sister Wendy shares her love for painting and her gift for this medium in this work. Her loving recounting of the accounts of saints' lives will touch, amuse and delight all who are fortunate enough to encounter this wonderful book.

Sister Wendy shows a light touch, a gentle approach to imparting her faith journey and the information she has gathered over the years. The bright colors emphasize the light, bright, upbeat tone of this wonderful book. I can't recommend it highly enough. This is truly a keeper.

God bless Sister Wendy!

A Beautiful Little Book!
Sister Wendy's Book of Saints By Sister Wendy Beckett.
This is a beautiful little book (96 pages), all bright and shiny paper with brilliant colors that almost leap off the page. Sister Wendy, the nun who has made a trade mark out of her running in and out of art museums, has collected the images of saints to support both her love of art and her orthodox views on Catholicism. The book begins with St. Peter (Petrine privilege?) and works its way down to lesser-known saints.
With each portrait, Sister Wendy points out an interesting tidbit. For example, with the Evangelist, St. Mark, (page 17), Sister Wendy indicates that the artist has portrayed the saint forming a cross with his pen and his sharpening knife. She lightens the mood by describing the lion, in the painting, as resembling "... an imbecilic sheep gazing in wonderment..." at St. Mark. This lightening of the mood is intentional as Sister Wendy repeats it (page 24) when she describes the ox in St. Luke's portrait as "...an almost goofy ox".

Despite this levity, Sister Wendy comes across as quite serious about both the art depicting the saints and the theology of the saints she has chosen. In summary, I would be very happy to have this book given to me.

Fantastic
If the rating had 10 stars, i would have given it 10. Sister wendy provides lucid and clear pictures and text, good book for all ages ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What the world needs now
A beautiful book that tells about a man who has so much love to give. Just what the world needs now, an antidote to hatrid and war and the evildoers that push them. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Memorable!
I was looking for a book that would teach children as well as entertain them, and I was skeptical that I would find one that did both. Tomie DePaola is an absolute winner! The stories are complete, rather than abbreviated as so many children's stories are. He gives the children credit for being able to appreciate and understand the complex stories of St. Francis's life. The account of when Francis renounced his father was depicted completely, but respectful. His remarkable illustrations are helpful as well. In a time when we need to be teaching simplicity, this is the book to read to your children! If you love this book, I would also recommend his book on St. Patrick!

Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi
For anyone who is a fan of Tomie DePaola and wants to teach children about St. Francis of Assisi this is a terrific book. I have read this book to my children, to my religious education class and shared it with adults studying the spirituality of St. Francis. It appeals to both children and adults. Children love the stories and adults are inspired by how Mr. DePaola brings St. Francis to life. He took the time not only to research the text of the book but also the illustrations. He actually drew St. Francis from the likeness painted by the artist who knew him. It's a must have for those who celebrate St. Francis Day. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Informative & Fun!
Growing up in an Irish Catholic family myself, I had heard a great deal about St. Patrick. When we received this book as a gift I started reading it to my children, and they loved it. There were stories even I hadn't heard about St. Pat! As with his St. Francis book, Tomie DePaola's book holds children's interest throughout the many stories while other books of this length lose children. Kids remember the stories and repeat them because they are told so lovingly and in such a fun way! I now bring this book to their school and read it to all their classrooms every St. Patrick's Day to let children know that there is more to Patrick than green beer!

Learn more about the Patron Saint of Ireland
A wonderful book by Tomie dePaola filled with helpful information about the true story of St. Patrick's life, as well as fun legends attributed to the patron Saint of Ireland. dePaola's bold illustrations lend to the attraction of the book. He mentions at the end of the book his reasons for writing it and his attraction to Saint Patrick. My own eight year old son has a strong devotion to Saint Patrick and this book is among his favorites. I appreciate the clear differentiation between fact and legend in this book and would highly recommend it for any family.

knowledge, good drawing and simple shapes make a joy to see.
Tomie dePaola's Patrick, patron-saint of Ireland is a joy to read and see. The story is clear and simple, the drawings strong and cheerfull. Not many historians mention the Irish hounds on the the ship to France. Tomie dePaola does, with knowledge and artfull humor. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a treasure for children
My mother gave me this book for my First Communion and it remains my most memorable gift from that special day. As a child I loved reading and rereading about my favorite saints. At the time, I didn't realize what a lasting impression it made; I just enjoyed the simple pictures and uplifting stories. Looking back though, it's easy to see how much this book helped reinforce the lessons of love and compassion I learned everyday from mass or the classroom.

This book is truly a treasure for kids and adults alike. Many popular saints are featured (e.g., St. Stephen, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth) as well as some lesser known ones (Bl. Kateri Tekawitha). Each biography includes a small illustration at the top of the page followed by a brief passage recounting deeds or sacrifices for which that saint is remembered. The prose is simple enough for a small child to read alone yet avoids reducing these important stories and lives to tall tales. Of course read it with your kid too! If you want to expose him or her to religion and the Christian values inspired by these saints, I can't recommend a better collection. Its durable hardback binding also ensures that they will treasure it years to come. ... Read more

Download Description

The classic account of the life of the gentle saint of Assisi ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Little Flowers of St. Francis
Pleasant read however historically unreliable. If you compare this account of St. Francis, to the earlier biography by Thomas of Celano you will find several inconsistancies and embelishments which are unsupported by evidence. If you are looking for a more reliable historical account of the life of St. Francis I would recommend that you check out the biography by Thomas of Celano as it was written much closer to St. Francis' lifetime and likely more realistic.

Entertaining and Inspiring
Francis is one of the most famous Saints today, although most only know him through his famous prayer ("Lord make me an instrument of they peace..."). This is the book to read in order to find out more about his life. The Little Flowers could in many ways be called the "Acts of Francis and His Followers," as it chronicles their journeys and miracles, and records their wisdom. The stories are not historical accounts in the modern sense, but oral traditions that tend to be on the legendary side (e.g. he communicates with animals, talks to Saints in heaven). This particular translation by Raphael Brown is excellent for the it also has The Considerations of the Holy Stigmata, The Life of Brother Juniper, The Life of Brother Leo, and the Sayings of Brother Giles.

2) Brown has added sixteen additional chapters of material that have never before appeared in English.

3) It contains a lengthy introduction and an appendix to guide those who wish to learn more about the history of the book and the life of St. Francis. The appendix is particularly valuable because it has a biographical sketch of the characters and short annotations that illuminate difficult passages in the book.

4) The translation from Italian and Latin to English is very readable.

If you want entertaining, amusing, and inspiring stories in a quality package, then check out The Little Flowers of St. Francis as translated/edited by Raphael Brown. ... Read more

Book Description

From early saints and martyrs such as Saint Patrick, Francis of Assisi, and Joan of Arc to the first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the lives of saints and martyrs make fascinating reading. Covering the stories of more than fifty saints and martyrs, this treasury offers personal histories of each saint, tales of their most famous deeds, and information on patron saints. Illustrated with art from stained-glass windows and illuminated manuscripts as well as masterpieces of painting by Caravaggio, Goya, Ingres, Titian and many others, the book also includes a calendar of Saints' Days and an explanation of what it takes to make a saint. Chock full of interesting stories and quotes from the saints themselves, The Treasury of Saints and Martyrs is an invaluable reference work--and wonderful reading, too. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Inspiring imagery of heavenly inhabitants
A beautifully illustrated rendition of the lives of the most common Saints. If anything was left out of the history of any particular Saint, the images make up for it. I give it only 4 stars, due to small inaccuracies which should have been worked out with a little more research, and some misleading myths about Catholicism have crept into this work (hopefully by accident), such as the sale of indulgences. A good source of information for anyone wishing to make an introductory trip into the lives of the Saints, and how their example has led others to sanctity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautifully drawn, good parable
I learned about Tomie de Paola from watching Barney, of all things, and this was the first book of his we bought.

The drawings are bright and well done, and match the text perfectly.

This is a good book for introducing religious concepts (devil, Christ Child) to little kids without overtly proselytizing. Also, if your child happens to be named Christopher (as mine is), it is fun for the child to learn what his name means.

I would recommend this book and plan to buy more by this author. ... Read more

Book Description

In ancient Rome there lived a gentle and humble man named Valentine.He was a physician, but he was also a Christian priestwhose life and freedom were in constant danger in a city of people who believed in so many gods, not just one.So Valentine tended to his patients in the daytime, but he prayed for them only at night.

One day a jailer from the emperor's prison appeared at Valentine's door with his small child, a girl who was blind.Knowing the difficulty of curing blindness, Valentine vowed to do his best, and over the weeks of treatment and prayer the three became fast friends. But even his friendship with the jailer could not save Valentine when the Roman soldier came to imprison him.

Here, accompanied by Robert Shabuda's dramatic mosaics evoking the time period in which the story takes place, is the story of a man whose goodness and faith brought about a miracle, and whose name lives on today in one of our most celebrated holidays. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful book!
I wish I had a book like this for St. Nicholas, but I will look for one on St. Patrick too. This is a really interesting book.

An Attractive Story of St. Valentine for Elementary Kids!
I was just handed this attractive story about Saint Valentine by a 3rd & 4th grade teacher who is using it in her classroom as part of her Valentine's Day activities. I'm the librarian at a public elementary school, so I read through it quickly with great delight. Since we don't have it in our collection, it is one I hope we can acquire before Valentine's Day next year!

While this story is about a saint of the Christian faith, the religious aspect of the story is toned down and not preachy. While Valentine's faith, and his role as a priest, are woven into the story, the text emphasizes his role as a physician and his relationship with the blind daughter of a Roman jailer who seeks healing. The "Notes on the text" at the end of the book explain Valentine's connection with the celebration of love.

The warm colored mosaics, with their icon-like appearance, are a fitting complement to the text. This book is visually appealing, and both the size of text and word choice make it appropriate for primary and middle grade readers.

It's my opinion that "Saint Valentine" would be a welcome addition to both school and church libraries, as well as in the collections of families who want to see historical, and saintly, figures like this come to life.

A Wonderful Account of St. Valentine's Life (Legend)
While we cannot be sure that the story of St. Valentine given here is true, due to the lack of historical data, Robert Sabuda gives a wonderful rendition of the St. Valentine legend as most Catholics know it. Kids love the story, the miracle, and the sacrifice that St. Valentine makes for his love of God. I've read it to first through fourth graders on several occasions. We then discuss faith legend, martyrdom and miracle at their age level. The illustrations are fabulous mosaics. I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers! ... Read more

Amazon.com

From Joan of Arc to John the Baptist, here are the stories oftwenty of the best-known and best-loved saints in Christian history as portrayed by the world's greatest artists. Beautifully printed in rich color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Saints That Touch Our Lives
This special book is a treasure. As a child, our school celebrated the feast day of many saints in the Catholic faith. This book gave me the opportunity to learn about why their lives (and their deaths) were significant. Each saint's story is one page and accompanied by a beautiful work of art depicting their life. The book also identifies each saint's honor as the "Patron Saint" of people in certain situations, or professions. Did you know that St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers? Did you know Saint Dorothy is the patron saint of florists? With the exception of St. Patrick's day on March 17, most people do not know the dates we honor specific saints. I am pleased to inform you that this is included inside the back cover of the book. As a CCD teacher I have used this book to teach children in 5th grade about the saints and it is one of their favorite lessons. I have shared this book with friends as well have children. I strongly recommend this book for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

The Virgin Mary is one of the most beloved figures of the Bible and a popular source of personal inspiration worldwide. Marianna Mayer's moving telling of the revered saint's youth, from her infancy to the birth of Jesus, is a vivid portrait of the compassionate girl who would one day be called the Mother of God. Illustrated with the works of such masters as Titian and Giotto and lavishly decorated with gold ornamentation, here is a celebration of one woman's courage -- and the glory of God and angels. ... Read more

Book Description

She was a child of wartime, for her country had long suffered under the twin horrors of invasion and civil war. At thirteen she began to hear the voices of saints. At seventeen she rode into battle and was proclaimed the savior of France. By nineteen she was dead--burned at the stake as a heretic. Almost five hundred years later she was declared a saint. This is her story, the story of Joan of Arc.

She was an illiterate peasant girl barely in her teens when the voices commanded her to leave her village, take up arms, and go to the aid of the young prince of France. Terrified, she protested--she was "Just a poor girl, who did not know how to ride or lead in war!" Still, she accepted her impossible mission and, during her brief and stunning career, faced hardship and danger, fought with unparalleled bravery, was twice wounded, and became a legend. The English, who began by mocking her as a foolish "cowgirl," soon came to fear her awesome power. The French were so inspired by this miraculous child that the tide of the dreadful war began to turn.

In the latest of her acclaimed series of picture-book biographies, Diane Stanley brings history to life through carefully researched, vivid narrative and sumptuous, gilded illustrations inspired by the illuminated manuscripts of the time. She takes readers to Joan's humble village of Domremy, to the splendid chambers where she first met the timid prince for whom she would sacrifice everything, to the battlefields where Joan fought so bravely, and to the dark and terrifying halls where she was condemned to die.

In this magnificent portrait of Joan of Arc, award-winner Diane Stanley once again reveals to young readers the richness and excitement of history.

00-01 South Carolina Book Award Nomination Masterlist (Grds 3-8)

Reviews (5)

A superb illustrated juvenile biography of Joan of Arc
I was sold on Diane Stanley's juvenile biography of "Joan of Arc" after reading her two-page prologue, "A Hundred Years of War," in which she explains the political situation in France when King Charles VI of France died two months after King Henry V of England. If you remember the end of Shakespeare's "Henry V," then you might be familiar with the agreement that was put into place following the Battle of Agincourt, but how many young readers have really studied that particular bit of English history by the Bard? However, in these two pages Stanley explains why the 19-year-old dauphin, Charles VII, was still uncrowned when Jeannette d'Arc in the small town of Domremy began receiving heavenly visions.

Stanley tells the familiar story of Joan of Arc in considerable detail, but always with one eye towards understanding what was happening from the perspective of a seventeen year old girl who road into battle and was proclaimed the savior of France and the other on the historical context of these events. She also pays attention to the details, listing the specific charges for which she was tried and the "confession" that she signed, which are often omitted from similar juvenile biographies, and at the end of her story she pays as much attention to the aftermath of her martyrdom as she did to setting up her life.

Throughout the book Stanley makes nice use of historical texts, dropping a lot of quotations and specific lines from the trial transcript and other sources. The text is accompanied by Stanley's illustrations, which are done in the style of the illuminated manuscripts of the time. As a result young readers will get a solid understanding of life of times of the woman called Joan of Arc by history, and be able to inform their friends that the new hit show on CBS should really be called "Jeanette (or Janet) of Arcadia."

Diane Stanley does it again!
A beautiful book! Diane Stanley carefully traces the life of Joan from her humble beginnings to her tragic end. The book even comes with a pronunciation guide to help those of us who haven't been to France. Although the language is at 8+ year old range, my 5 year old daughter loves it anyway!

Wonderful for kids
Not only was this an accurate portrayal of Joan of Arc's story, it was wonderfully written and illustrated. I would recommend it for anyone who is starting out in learning of the saint. It is educational and enjoyable for a child.

A role model for girls
This is a beautiful book that I purchased for a seven year old girl. I am a medievalist and the depictions in this book of the clothing, etc. are true to fact. The next copy I buy will be for myself as I collect good children's books on medieval times. Every year I publish of list of children's book on this time period that I recommend in our group's newsletter and this book is high on the list.

MY DAUGHTER LOVED IT
My 8 year old daughter devoured this book in one sitting, which is amazing considering that she hardly ever reads non-fiction. (She was not pleased at the not-so-happy ending, however!)

Beautiful illustrations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"This is a true story," Josephine Poole proclaims, as she begins toweave her lovely picture-book biography of Joan of Arc. "It happened over 500 years ago, in France." Children, of course, are immediately hooked--especially when the truth unfolds into a story as mystical, timeless, and exquisitely written and illustrated as this one. Rather than bog the narrative down with excessive political and military details, Poole aims straight for the heart of faith in this amazing story about a 13-year-old girl who hears divine voices. When she is still but a teenager, the "Voices" compel her to lead an army of soldiers and save the king of France. Award-winning illustrator Angela Barrett (The Emperor's New Clothes) paints with springy grass greens and lamb whites to portray the early innocence of Joan the farm girl. But when she is transformed into Joan of Arc, Barrett surrounds her with the murky colors of war and the grim grays of death. Likewise, the face of Joan transforms from a girlish visage to that of a young warrior woman, besieged with grief for those who have died in war. And when Joan of Arc is to be burned, Barrett once more transforms Joan into an adult woman illuminated by the protection of belief. Poole and Barrett both resisted the temptation (as others have not) to insert religious agendas when portraying Joan of Arc's conversation with the Voices and her reported conversation with the archangel Michael after she was betrayed and imprisoned in a castle. As a result, the story becomes even more authentic and spiritually satisfying, especially when Joan is burned into an eternal star: "A saint is like a star. A star and a saint shine forever." (Ages 7 and older) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Joan of Arc as a saint, who like a star, shines on forever
Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett's provide a compelling portrait of an ardent and spiritual Joan of Arc in this illustrated juvenile biography of the 15th-century peasant girl who led a French army to victory against the English and was later burned at the stake for witchcraft. Author Poole emphasizes that this is a true story, which is what makes the story of Joan's courage and humanity more compelling, especially with Barrett's illustrations, which provide a sense of both the time and the import of the story. Poole does an especially nice job of presenting the political complexities of the time in simple terms, yet provides a poetic touch to her text. What comes across is a story of a simple girl who was empowered by her beliefs to accomplish great things, that treats the triumph and the tragedy in equal measure, and underscores how after her martyrdom Joan went on to be named a saint by the Church.

Young readers will understand how Joan's beliefs could inspire her troops at the siege of Orleans, but they will have trouble understanding why there were those who abandoned her or why the English made sure she would be convicted at her trail. However, ultimately this look at "Joan of Arc" is more interested in providing a look at the story of her life without really trying to explain the motives of anyone beyond Joan. Within that context, the illustrations by Barrett make it clear that although she is dressed up in armor and carrying a colorful banner, Joan was a young girl. Young readers will definitely have a sense for why the story of this particular young girl has been a dramatic and compelling one for centuries.

Great Introduction for Children to Joan of Arc
I had read this book before, and I loved it. Children will fall in love with this book. This book tells about the heroic story of Joan of Arc, the French maid that helped France win a war against England, and died a heroin. I think children will think she is a saint, and she is a great role model for children. Here children can learn from Joan, about bravery, courage, and patriotism. My favorite quote is, "A saint is like a star. A star and a saint shine forever." Parents, you children will like this book. Plus they learn a little history too on a level they can understand.

An Excellent Children¿s Introduction to St. Joan
Regine Pernoud, the most respected twentieth-century biographer of Joan of Arc, noted that everyone can find a reason to love this saint. This book helps children begin to understand why she still haunts us 500 years after her death. I bought a copy of this book for my three-year-old son to introduce him to Joan of Arc's story, and it has been a pleasure for both of us. Now that it is available in an affordable paperback edition, a lot of parents will want to add it to their child's library.

Angela Barrett's illustrations are striking and memorable. In particular, I like the painting of the English bombarding Orleans, as it shows what a siege was like in those days. The cover picture (displayed above) shows Joan on her horse surrounded by the hopeful residents of Orleans who wanted to touch the maiden that God sent to liberate them. Without being heavy-handed, the fire engulfing the banner hints at Joan's ultimate fate, and her face reminds us that she was in many ways a child. This was a true incident, and Joan was said to have been masterful in guiding her horse to water to douse the flame. There is also an outstanding two-page illustration of Charles' coronation, in which Joan is shown standing in a position of honor as befits the liberator of the kingdom. The depiction of angels visiting the imprisoned Joan while she was on trial at Rouen captures the spirit of her faith in God and certainty in her quest. Remember that this uneducated peasant girl held her own for two months in a contest of wits with masters from the University of Paris. The illustrations alone make this book worth having.

Any biographer of Joan of Arc must find a way to explain the inexplicable. Josephine Poole's text is good, beginning with the simple statement that this is a true story. Ms. Poole offers Joan's story more-or-less at surface value. As is appropriate for her audience of children, she simply relates that Joan was a country girl working in a field when she heard voices that filled her with overwhelming happiness. The author includes some details of Joan's story that one could quibble with, but overall the text is solid as biography. I was frankly glad that she did not go into details of Joan's terrible death, concluding instead that a saint, like a star, lives forever. Indeed, Joan of Arc will always live in the hearts of all of us who love her.

Perhaps my son's actions speak loudest about the value of this book. We never go on a trip without "Joan of Arc," and I have heard him tell his friends, in his own way, that Joan of Arc tried to warn Classidas to go home, but that she ended up having to shoot and was sorry when he died. This book has helped my son begin to love St. Joan, and that is the strongest recommendation for it that I know how to make.

Joan of Arc, maid of Orleans, saves France
I bought this book in my position as church librarian, seeking stories for preteens about people whose lives were changed by God. There are very few books for kids like that out there that don't send a heavy fundamentalist message. There's also the old joke that Noah's wife was Joan of ARK. I needed to set that piece of ignorance straight, too. So I found an excellent book about St. Joan in this illustrated copy. The text is preteen level with historical information like a timeline of Joan's life and map of medieval France, along with the text of Joan's life. This is a nice volume and I would recommend it if you wish to buy it for medieval history, religion, feminist issues, French history or all of the above. The illustrations are well designed and in soft colors, to express the femininity and grace of Joan. ... Read more

Book Description

Here, simply and charmingly retold, is the classic story of the man who became a channel of God's peace to the world--its people and its creatures. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great book for Children
If you want to teach your children about a great saint, this is the book. Both the illustrations and text are perfect for kids. I wish she would write about the other saints too.

Great Children's book
If you want to teach your child about a great saint, this is the book. It has pictures and easy words. Really good.

A Wonderful Children's Story
This well written book will be a treasure for any child's library. Saint Francis of Assisi was one of the great Christians of the world. The message of simple living is one that children need to hear today. The drawings are delicately beautiful and very meaningful to the story. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good book
this was a pretty good book. however, i am not too interested in the mexican war, so i was not very interested in some parts of the story line, but if u r interested in the mexican war, this book is definetly 4 u! ... Read more