Brother Sun, Sister Moon: The Life and Stories of St. Francis [Hardcover]

Margaret Mayo (Author), Peter Malone (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

"Saint Francis of Assisi has always held a fascination for members of all faiths, and his story continues to inspire and motivate us more than seven hundred years after his death. Born into a wealthy family, he led a dissolute life as a young man. Then one day he had a conversion experience while passing a poor leper's hut. From that day on, Francis dedicated his life to helping the poor and outcasts of society and to teaching respect for all living things. He was joined by a noblewoman, Clare, who was soon known as Sister Moon to Francis's Brother Sun. This appealing book includes many of the tales that were told about him, including his taming of the fierce wolf Gubbio and the famous prayer that begins, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace." With its charming text and glowing illustrations, this is a book to give, to keep, to cherish."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Malone's (The Magic Flute) magnificently detailed illustrations are the highlight of this attractive volume, which tells of the perennially popular Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), the son of a wealthy merchant who went on to take a vow of poverty and ascended to sainthood. Beginning with a sketchy biography, Mayo (How to Count Crocodiles) adds several legends about St. Francis. Unfortunately, the biographical section may raise more questions than it answers. For instance, most biographers agree that Francis's yearlong imprisonment was a time of epiphany, but Mayo's account is confusing ("After a long illness, Francis returned to his old life of luxury and pleasure. Illness and prison had changed him though, so that now he would sometimes walk alone in the hills, thinking and praying"). While the biographical section fails to capture the charisma of both Francis the indulged youth and Francis the convert, his magnetic qualities come through more clearly in the legends that follow (especially in "How Francis Tamed a Ferocious Wolf" and "The Ox, the Ass and the Child of Bethlehem"). Supplied in abundance, Malone's exquisite vignettes and spot illustrations, inspired by Italian frescoes, do more than the text to characterize the saint. His Francis possesses an accessible yet otherworldly quality, whether singing beneath a crescent moon as a man born to affluence, riding off to war in his stately armor or praying in the ruined church of San Damiano. By the time readers find St. Francis's own "Canticle of Brother Sun," included at the end, they'll know how to appreciate it. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-A highly readable and aesthetically appealing portrait of St. Francis of Assisi. Eleven chapters subtly suggest a distinction between life and legend. Mayo begins with biography and proceeds with the well-known stories of how Francis tamed a wolf, talked to the birds, and organized the first living cr?che. These are followed by lesser-known tales, a simplified version of The Canticle of Brother Sun, information about the canonization, and the 1997 earthquake that destroyed much of the Basilica of San Francesco. Malone's paintings combine elements from illuminated manuscripts and frescoes by Giotto with invented, playful cameos united through scale, palette, and subject. The overall effect is of an enactment of a medieval mystery play, with the saint, his family, and followers as central characters. The sun and the moon also appear, at times as heavenly bodies, or as costumed actors or musicians, depending on the scene. The only image that disrupts the flow is the procession to the first nativity. Other sources place the scene in a cave. Here it is a church-one that looks like a modern structure. The brief bits of dialogue are similar to those found in other biographies; Mayo does offer some information on sources, including an allusion to Francis's own writings, but direct documentation is not provided. The art creates a medieval setting quite effectively; the generous use of white space between the relatively simple sentences makes the content accessible to a range of readers. Consider this one even if you have other titles about this popular saint.
Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316564664
• ISBN-13: 978-0316564663
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Francis retold for children, May 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: The Life and Stories of St. Francis (Hardcover)

This is a really fine illustrated life of St. Francis for youth. It is in large print suitable for children age 8 and up, and is likely to appeal to parents as well. I really enjoyed the art work and the well written text.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Francis and the animals, June 26, 2005

By 

Miryam Shoresh (Adirondack Mountains, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: The Life and Stories of St. Francis (Hardcover)

A delightful book that reads like a story (rather than a historical account) of Francis' many experiences with animals. Great for kids and adults alike.