The Fourth Wise Man [Hardcover]

Susan Summers (Author), Jackie Morris (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Long ago a man named Artaban and three companions observed a new star in the night sky. They knew it signified the birth of a great teacher--someone who would bring change and hope to the world. There and then they decided to follow the star to pay homage to the newborn child. But along the way Artaban stops to help those in need, and his journey takes him far longer than he could have dreamed. Lovingly written and stunningly illustrated, here is a Christmas story unlike any other, about one man's lifelong search for virtue. The Fourth Wise Man truly captures the real meaning of Christmas and is sure to be a holiday favorite for all ages. Susan Summers is a former teacher who shared the story of The Fourth Wise Man with her students for many years, and finally decided to write it down. Jackie Morris has illustrated several books, including Out of the Ark: Stories from the World's Religions, which Publishers Weekly praised for its joyous watercolors.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5?This beautifully illustrated picture-book length abridgment of Henry Van Dyke's story, originally published in 1895, makes a fine addition to Christmas collections. Artaban, the fourth wise man, arranges to meet his three scholarly friends, all of whom plan to follow the bright star in the sky that their studies have told them signals the birth of the King of the Jews. However, he is delayed when he stops to nurse a desperately ill man back to life. The other Magi leave without him, but Artaban continues alone to Bethlehem, selling one of his precious gifts to purchase camels for his own caravan. Once again he is delayed by his generous spirit when he sacrifices another treasure to rescue a woman and her child from Herod's soldiers. Artaban travels for years "and though he found no King of Kings to worship, he found many people to help. Wherever he went, he fed the hungry and clothed the naked; he healed the sick and he visited those in prison..." Even as he goes to succor Jesus before His Crucifixion, Artaban stops to help a young girl and, at last, his goodness is recognized. This is a deeply moving story, simply and strongly retold. Lush, glowing watercolor illustrations capture the heat of the desert and the nobility of the wise man while perfectly complementing this tale about the truest meaning of Christmas.?AC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-9. In a short story written in the 1800s, Henry Van Dyke imagined what it would have been like had there been a fourth wise man, one who did not complete the journey to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Summers' retelling, based on Van Dyke's story, introduces Artaban, a Zoroastrian man living in Persia. Artaban sets off to meet his three friends Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, but he stops along the way to assist a dying man, rescue a child in Herod's Massacre of the Innocents, and save a woman about to be sold into slavery. Artaban misses his chance to worship Jesus, but at the end of his life, he is rewarded for helping the needy: "As often as you did these things for the least of my children, you did them for me." The touching story flows smoothly and eloquently, and the richly colored illustrations capture the book's emotional intensity with careful attention to the setting's place and time. Susan Dove Lempke

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803723121
• ISBN-13: 978-0803723122
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECT for Sunday Schools and families!, December 4, 2000

By 

Terri K. (Columbus, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fourth Wise Man (Hardcover)

Wow. A book I've read 5 times this week and still brings tears to my eyes. The kids (25 jumpy children who just saw snow outside) were mesmerized. The best investment our Sunday School has made for the church library. Wow!! Such descriptive language and drop-dead gorgeous pictures. Easily transported us all back 2000 years.

I read the book to our Sunday School children before class to kick off our Christmas lessons, passed around jewelry with jewels just like Artaban had, then gave out the cheap plastic jewels from a dollar store. The kids are to carry the jewel in a picket to remind them to give a gift to someone this month, like Artaban spent 33 years doing. Every child should have this book!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story, May 15, 2002

By 

Evonne Landwehr (Duluth, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fourth Wise Man (Hardcover)

This book should be on the gift list for everyone you know! The original story was written by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933). Susan Summers has rewritten and brought forth such gorgeous illustrations of a very special tale! No holiday season should go by without bringing this wonderful book out to read in a cozy gathering around the fireplace.

The Fourth Wise Man tells the story of Artaban who had originally planned to journey to Bethlehem with the other three wisemen to pay homage to the new King of the Jews but was delayed by his acts of kindness to others along the way. He does miss the birth of Jesus but continues a lifelong search of the King with a most wonderful journey and blissful end.

This is one of my all time favorites for any season and always brings tears to my eyes to think of the beauty of Artaban's life. Here's what Mr. Van Dyke had to say about his story:
"Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul May keep the path, but will not reach the goal; While he who walks in love may wander far, Yet God will bring him where the blessed are."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have...don't go another year without it., December 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fourth Wise Man (Hardcover)

I love this book. And it is great for any age. I was introduced to the book a few years ago. I fell so much in love with the book, I had to read it to my Sunday School class which was a group of 5th grade boys. They were completly drawn into the story. They loved it. It has some great biblical truths within the story, which leads to a great discussion.
The illustrations are awesome.