The Stonecutter [Hardcover]

Patricia Newton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

A retelling of a traditional Indian tale in which a discontented stonecutter is never satisfied with each wish that is granted him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This stylish retelling of a folktale from India, reminiscent of the story of the flounder and the fisherman, concerns a poor stonecutter who prays to the mountain spirit for comfort and wealth. After each of his wishes is granted, the stonecutter is surprised to find that he is still discontented. As a rich merchant, he longs to be an even richer king; as the wind, he longs to be an immovable mountain. Finally, he realizes that "stone by stone, even a mountain is nothing compared to a stonecutter," and having become a stonecutter again, he is "truly happy." Newton's pastel art ingeniously blends abstract, rounded shapes with Indian motifs. The stonecutter's face appears in the center of the sun, "as his thousand wheeling arms searched the earth for a king." Especially noteworthy is the lyrical text, which is as smooth and polished as the stonecutter's well-wrought blocks. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-- This fable of human dissatisfaction and the greedy wish for "more" is familiar in many versions. The stonecutter's ambitions transform him (thanks to the mountain spirit) into a merchant, a king, the sun, a cloud, the wind, a mountain--and back to a stonecutter at last, happy with his new understanding of the relativity of power. Newton's retelling is polished and has read-aloud potential. Her illustrations are far different from Gerald McDermott's well-known treatment of the tale (Penguin, 1975). The curving stylization of forms here evokes the art of India, the probable source of the story. Newton uses pale, minimally shaded color: luminous lemon-yellow, warm orange, and a range of blue-greens. The placement of the framed text on the page and the flat-space juxtaposition of forms also recall Indian design conventions. A book worth putting on the folktale shelf, even if it sits next to another retelling. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (October 23, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399221875
• ISBN-13: 978-0399221873
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,548,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Response to The Stonecutter--a Folktale, January 5, 2012

By 

Martha - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stonecutter (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this East Indian folktale that was written and illustrated by Patricia (Pam) Newton (Pub.1990 by Whitebird, G.P. Putnam's Sons.) The format is a chapter book for children. Since there are 40 to 70 words per page with many concepts, I believe readers age 4-1/2 up would be of interest. The many illustrations are lovely, stylized, colorful in the East Indian tradition.

It's about a man whose job it is to cut stone, "a poor stonecutter." He becomes envious of those of higher rank than him--a rich merchant, a king, the sun, wind and finally a mountain. The spirits offer him his desires, transforming the stonecutter into these different being, but in his new lifestyles the man isn't any happier, just wants more and more. Finally a spritual awakening resolves, "At last I am happy to be a stonecutter--truly happy." and also said, "The stonecutter offered a prayer of thanks to the mountain spirit. A feeling of contentment settled over him."

It's a story about finding personal peace, learning thanksgiving for who one is, and joy. This sweet, fresh story brought me peace and joy.
From The Antiquarian Resource