Stephen's Feast [Hardcover]

Jean Richardson (Author), Alice Englander (Illustrator)

Book Description

Stephen, the youngest page at the court of King Wenceslas, is asked to accompany his monarch on a mission of good will to a poor peasant.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this pleasing retelling of the Christmas carol about good King Wenceslas, lively storytelling combines with atmospheric artwork to adroitly evoke a sense of time and place. Stephen, the king's page, is summoned to identify a sad, lone figure in the town square. He recognizes the man to be a poor farmer who often comes into town "looking for things . . . firewood . . . and scraps from the kitchen." For reasons Stephen cannot understand, King Wenceslas bids the boy load up on supplies, and they set off in a blinding snowstorm to deliver the food and wood to the man's family. When they arrive at the house, Stephen enjoys a warm--and warmhearted--feast. Richardson tells her story in a straightforward and ingratiating manner, wisely avoiding any exaggeration of the carol's events. Englander's rousing illustrations, full of rich hues of gold and red, perfectly capture the gusto of the holiday season. The carol appears in full on the attractive endpapers, inviting readers to delve into the pages within. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The carol about ``Good King Wenceslas'' is expanded into a sentimental story in which a rather thoughtless young page is taken along to see how the less fortunate live; the bounty he and his king take to the humble cottage is shared in a sumptuous feast after the king himself builds up the fire. The telling is adequate if prosaic; it does serve to explicate John Mason Neale's verse, which younger children may find obscure. Englander's attractive illustrations set the story appropriately in medieval Eastern Europe; the page (also named Stephen--it's his birthday as well as the saint's day) looks like an appealing blond member of a modern third grade, while the grandly clothed king is thoughtful and suitably benign. Not essential, but enjoyable. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv); 1st edition (November 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316744352
• ISBN-13: 978-0316744355
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings the carol to life., October 6, 2004

By 

P. Uhl (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stephen's Feast (Hardcover)

We've enjoyed this book with our sons (one of whom is named Stephen) and plan to give one to a friend whose birthday is St. Stephen's Day. The story is simple but meaningful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute story, February 25, 2011

By 

L. Herring (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stephen's Feast (Hardcover)

It's nice to have a cute story emphasizing generosity! I found it quite refreshing. So many Christmas books focus on what a child might be receiving but this shows a King who brings along his page to give anonymously to a poor man and his family. Sometimes it is better to give than to receive!