Brother Bartholomew and the Apple Grove (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Kestutis Kasparavicius (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-In a quiet hilltop monastery, eight monks tend a small farm, eking out just enough to survive. Old Brother Bartholomew, who looks after the apple grove, allows the deer to come in and eat the fruit, saying, "God will provide." When young and ambitious Brother Stephen arrives, he is appalled at the state of the orchard and secretly hopes that the elderly monk will die so that he can take it over and improve it. After his death, the younger man puts barbed wire on the fence and a large, beautiful buck is injured while trying to jump over it. The animal looks at Brother Stephen with familiar eyes and speaks to him, saying: "Your pride has caused this harm, my brother." From then on, "a great rush of light filled his heart and flooded his soul," and Brother Stephen shares the apples with the deer. When he grows old and a new young monk asks him why, Brother Stephen replies, "God will provide.… He always does." This simple parable is beautifully illustrated in muted colors and detailed landscapes that show the passing of the seasons and evoke a rural, old-world simplicity. Perhaps a bit sophisticated in theme, this offering will work best when shared with an adult.-Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Youthful, energetic Brother Stephen knows he can tend his monastery's apples better than old Brother Bartholomew, who sits idly by as deer chomp the valuable fruit. When confronted, Brother Bartholomew merely comments, "God will provide." The care of the orchards eventually passes to Brother Stephen, who sets feverishly to work, repairing the gate and strengthening the fence, topping it with barbed wire. When a noble stag injures itself on the wire, Brother Stephen understands that pride has distracted him from the true path of God. Lithuanian artist Kasparavicius extends the theme of humility with quiet, earth-toned scenes of life in a rustic monastery. Although this Christian fable becomes forthrightly religious when a voice from on high delivers a Bible verse and short sermon to the penitent Brother Stephen, the simple messages of generosity, compassion, and respect for the wisdom of the elderly reach out to an ecumenical audience. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590780965
• ISBN-13: 978-1590780961
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #671,630 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids ages 6 and older will relish this story , August 13, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Kids ages 6 and older will relish this story of a monastery which makes applesauce to make ends meet, helped by the careful attendance of Brother Bartholomew to the apple grove. His aging is causing him to be forgetful and to not mend the fence which helps guard the apples, so when the younger Brother Stephen enters the monastery and covets the task, convinced he can do better, the elderly Brother faces a big challenge. Will God continue to provide, as he believes?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful picture book for traditional Catholics of all ages, March 5, 2008

By	N. Porter "Mother of 6" (Midwest) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was really charmed by this book. I bought it for my young children to have more good Catholic literature around, and this was an excellent addition. The illustrations are very charming, full of color and life and the book is beautiful just for this aspect alone. I was a little hesitant about the younger monk "wishing the older would die", but it sounded worse in the review than it read in the book, and it was something that was easily explained by the rest of the story. Has some excellent morals to the story, and I would highly recommend it to add to your library for your Catholic family. An excellent book that encourages the Catholic faith and shows it in a good light.