Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy [Hardcover]

Jr., Robert F. Kennedy (Author), Dennis Nolan (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

He turned away from his life of wealth and privilege to live with lepers, the "untouchables" of his society. He preached the idea of the sanctity of all life, becoming an advocate of animal rights and environmentalism in a time when even human life often had little value. He found joy in owning nothing, and giving everything away. He was story of Saint Francis of Assisi and the story of his life is inspiring and radical. And now more than ever, it bears important messages for American children living in a culture of casual abundance and waste. Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.-a father, a devout Roman Catholic, a crusader for clean air and water, and a member of a family famous for its dedication to public service. It is no wonder, then, that this saint's story should resonate so powerfully with him. Mr. Kennedy has retold Francis's story as a lesson and inspiration for his own children-and for children everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–Kennedy's passion for nature and lifelong connection to this saint are evident in both the narrative and introduction, in which he reveals his personal convictions. The book paints Francis in glowing terms (with some fictionalized dialogue), weaving together the major threads of his life: his early kindness to beggars in his family's fabric shop; his call to and ultimate rejection of a military career; his estrangement from his wealthy father; and his ministry to lepers, the impoverished, and animals. The famous prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace…," is printed across the bottom of the pages. Nolan's oil paintings render realistic figures in carefully staged scenes. The architecture and landscape of Assisi are accurately captured, although the New Age angel depicted at the conclusion is anachronistic. While much of the information overlaps with that found in Guido Visconti's Clare and Francis (Eerdmans, 2004), the telling and aesthetic are quite different; the books will appeal to vastly different audiences. The book has no source notes or bibliography. Purchase where religious picture-book biographies are in high demand.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Sharing the middle name of Francis with his father, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. felt especially close to St. Francis while growing up, and the gentle saint continues to play an important part in his personal and family life. Here Kennedy offers a straightforward telling of Francis' life that, nonetheless, seems imbued with the splendor of the saint's mission. As Kennedy notes in his introduction, Francis' life was so full that not everything about it could be included. But his well-told biography, which introduces Francis as a frivolous yet charming King of Youth and follows him to his welcoming "Sister Death," also describes incidents such as Francis' reconciliation with the wolf of Grubbio and his relationship with St. Clare, who started an order of nuns similar to the Franciscan brothers' order. The book is illustrated with full-page, realistic paintings, which, while technically adept, have little sense of wonder or mystery. It's the words (including Francis' Canticle of the Sun on the back cover) that paint the pictures in this book. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (February 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786818751
• ISBN-13: 978-0786818754
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 10.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #592,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( K ) > Kennedy, Robert

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, March 16, 2005

By 

Valerie Atkinson Brown "[e-mail]" (Kyle, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy (Hardcover)

When I saw Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. talk about his book on Good Morning America, I rushed out to buy a copy. My mom always
had a Saint Francis figurine out in the garden and the story
about him has always been an inspiration to me.

Though this book may be advertised as a child's book, it really
is for any one at any age. Each page has exquisite illustrations done by Dennis Nolan; each page has has a verse
and an accompanying full page illustration and calligraphic letters.

Whether young or old, you should read this book. It will make you think about plants and animals - our most endangered resources - and will give you a different view after you've read it.

Lovely work. Beautiful story.

Valerie Atkinson Brown
Author, International Thomson Publishing

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...To Seek A Newer World., April 12, 2005

By 

Barry B. Edison "Barry B. Edison" (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book for people of all ages. It is full of hope and wonder and teaches us all, as the author's farther did, "to seek a newer world". The protection of our animals, birds and overall environment is more important today then it was in St. Francis' time and his life story is told with wit and grace by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As one who was an intern in Senator Kennedy's ill fated campaign for the presidency in 1968, I feel a special happiness that RFK's namesake is contributing so very much to make our country and world a much better place.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for all!, April 22, 2006

By 

Robin (Flat Rock, MI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy (Hardcover)

I teach second grade in a public school in a large Catholic nieghborhood. I get invited to many first communions. I am not Catholic, but growing up in this nieghborhood I know a lot about this deep faith. The story of St.Francis reaches out to everyone no matter thier religion. It has always interested me. So when this book was released I borrowed it from the library. I was taken back by it. I now buy this book for all of my students that receive their first communion, and I personally inscribe each one. My students love this story!