Customer Reviews

The Stone : A Persian Legend of the Magi

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In 1271 Marco Polo began his famous journey that eventually led him from the port of Venice to the magnificent court of the Kublai Khan in China. On his journey east Marco Polo visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he was shown a lamp that had been burning continuously for over 1,200 years; he took some of oil from that lamp as a gift for the Kublai Khan. While passing through the Persian town of Saveh the traveler saw three tombs that the locals said was the final resting place of three men named Balthasar, Melchior, and Jasper. Marco Polo wrote down the story that they told him and Dianne Hofmeyr retells the tale as "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi," with watercolor illustrations by Jude Daly, the pair having worked together previously on the picture book "Do the Whales Still Sing?"

The tale beings with the three astronomers gazing up at the heavens and witnessing a star like no other star, that fills the night sky with its fiery light. Consulting their charts and scrolls they can across the legend of a baby whose birth would be announced by such a star and who would grow up to become a king that brought justice, healing, and peace to the world. The three astronomers set off to find the child and honor him, bearing their gifts of gold, myrrh and holy incense. Most readers, young and old, will be familiar with the story up to this point. But when the three men find the simple shelter on which the star shown they find something other than the baby that they have come to see. More importantly, when they give their gifts, they receive one in return.

That simple gift and its significance make up the final part of the story, which nicely compliments what little is said about the Magi in the Gospels. The point of the legend also makes a simple point, which is usually the type that people need to be reminded of from time to time. "The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi" should come to the attention of new readers at Christmas time each year as an old way of taking a new look at the ancient story.

This moving story that tugs at our heart strings reminds us of the important values we base our lives on. Decisions we make as adults often seem automatic. In reality these "choices" reflect our values; values moulded and established when we were still children. How? Through stories, magical stories passed on from person to person, from generation to generation. This story is a wonderful return to 'traditional' teaching methods, storytelling at its finest.

It is also written by my mom.

This is a beautiful story, told in a very family-friendly way. It has inspired conversation every time I've shared the story. I bought a copy for my brother-in-law, who is a pastor. He preached on it! Illustrations are perfect. If you are looking for a fresh take on the Christmas story, start here.