Joseph [Hardcover]

Brian Wildsmith (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

THE STORY OF JOSEPH and his coat of many colors is a favorite Bible story-full of dramatic events and enduring lessons in love and faith. Because Joseph is Jacobs favorite son, Josephs brothers are jealous. Their jealousy deepens when Jacob gives Joseph a beautiful coat, and they decide to sell Joseph as a slave for twenty pieces of silver. But God is watching over Joseph, and he survives imprisonment, captures Pharaohs interest and respect, and becomes a powerful ruler in Egypt. Eventually he meets his brothers again, and his family, by the grace of God, is reunited. The tale of eleven brothers who sell their favored brother into slavery is a story about envy, greed, and power, but also a story about love, compassion, and forgiveness. Above all, it is a story about the power and mercy of God as he draws a bitterly divided family back together and in the process changes the course of nations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 5^-9. Most libraries probably own several versions of the popular biblical story about Joseph, but this one is well told and particularly handsome. Wildsmith's ink-and-watercolor artwork has never seemed more polished, his colorings more carefully shaded (especially where the blue of the desert sky meets the gold of the sand). He also uses the Egyptian setting of pharaoh's court to beautiful effect, making it come alive with pyramids and hieroglyphic-encrusted walls and spires climbing to the sky. The gilt edging of the pages also gives the book the glow of majesty. For any library needing (or wanting) just one more edition, this book makes a fine addition to religion shelves. Ilene Cooper

About the Author

Brian Wildsmith is one of the most venerable figures in children's illustration today and celebrates over forty years of publishing with OUP - a truly remarkable achievement. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802851614
• ISBN-13: 978-0802851611
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A visually appealing introduction to the biblical account!, August 22, 2001

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joseph (Hardcover)

Award-winning children's book illustrator, Brian Wildsmith, lends his pen and water colors to the well-known and beloved story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis. As would be expected from Wildsmith, these illustrations of Egyptian palaces, hieroglyphics and royalty in full regalia are a feast to behold. By comparison, Joseph's nomadic sheepherding father, Jacob, and Joseph's treacherous brothers live rather humble lives in the desert.

Unfortunately, the text of this version of the emotionally compelling biblical account is rather dry and matter-of-fact. It would be easy to call this the condensed version. So, enjoy this visually appealing book with your children, but let it be an introduction the richer version found in the Book of Genesis. Be sure to check out Wildsmith's companion volume, "Exodus."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finely detailed illustrations with beautiful color, February 24, 2003

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Joseph (Hardcover)

The illustrations of this over-sized children's picture book are almost overwhelming due to the detail of the fine point ink drawings. The tiny strokes that make up the Egyptian hieroglyphics, the plant leaves, and the wall decorations are unbelievable. Great care and thought was given to both the drawings and the painting. The painting of the background of the pages and of the skies contain beautiful combinations of color.

Unfortunately I don't think the writing matches the quality of the illustrations. The story itself could have been made more exciting or more lyrically descriptive.

My five year old really enjoyed this story and he asks me to read it over and over.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed, March 11, 2007

By 

R. Johnson "Book-loving Mom" (IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joseph Pb (Paperback)

This version of the Biblical story of Joseph was more detailed than other children's storybooks I've found. The illustrations are beautiful and go into great detail as well. I definately recommend this one as an intro to the actual Bible version.

One caution: Wildsmith does not gloss over what happened with Potiphar's wife. For anyone who may be offended by this, you may want to read it yourself before reading it to your child. It is handled delicately, though so it's really a personal decision.

Overall, it's a very well-done book!