The Clown of God
by Tomie dePaola
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Book Summary Information
Author: Tomie dePaolaBrand: Houghton Mifflin Company
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1978-09-06
ISBN: 0156181924
Number of pages: 48
Publisher: Sandpiper
Product features:
- Colorful pictures relate how the juggler used his talents during his life.
- Italian legend.
Book Reviews of The Clown of God
Book Review: "If you give happiness to people, you give glory to God as well."
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was a Christmas present in 1998 to my then four-year-old son from his aunt. She had wanted to give him books for Christmas and had asked my wife and I for ideas, we had given her two suggestions: "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg (another wonderful, highly recommended book) and anything by Tomie dePaola, since our son loved the "Strega Nona" series and other titles by Mr. DePaola. She gave him both "The Polar Express" and "The Clown of God" and they became not only favorites of my son, but also my wife and I as well.
The story is Mr. DePaola's interpretation of "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame"("Our Lady's Juggler") by Anatole France that in turn was based on an old medieval legend. In Mr. DePaola's version, the setting is early Renaissance Italy; Giovanni, a young orphan boy in the town of Sorrento, has a talent for juggling. He leaves Sorrento to join a travelling troop of players, where he refines his art and becoming increasing successful, deciding to strike out on his own when he grows into a man. Giovanni travels the length of Italy far and wide performing for audiences ranging from peasants to royalty amazing people with his effortless juggling routines, culminating in the wondrous "sun in the heavens" a gold ball juggled after a rainbow of many colored balls. However the years pass, Giovanni is now an old man, times have become harder, and audiences are bored with his routines after all this time. In addition, with age Giovanni's skill is ebbing away, his reflexes no longer as quick and as lithe. At last it happens; Giovanni drops some balls ruining his act, the audience turns on him, running him out of town. Sadly he takes off his clown makeup and costume, and decides to go back home to Sorrento. His money gone, he is reduced to begging, but wearily makes it back to Sorrento on a cold and sleety Christmas Eve where he takes refuge in the Franciscan Monastery Church, chilled and exhausted. It seems like the end is near for poor Giovanni, but he has one final burst of glory left before he leaves the earth; as the tale ends he has caused a Christmas miracle by a final unselfish act of love.
The simple beauty of the words and illustrations by Tomie dePaula's make this book appealing to both child and adult, and touches the heart. His paintings though colorful have a soft glow like an aged tapestry from that long ago time, as always there is his signature flair for detail. Although there is sadness that old Giovanni dies, it is a happy death, as he does what he loves to do more than anything else in the world, and more brilliantly than ever before.
The positive messages for children abound in this beautiful story. The title of the review is the highlight; Giovanni meets a pair of Franciscan friars on his travels and generously shares his lunch. As the men eat their meal, the two friars explain that their Founder Brother Francis (Saint Francis of Assisi) says that everything sings of the glory of God, even his juggling. Giovanni is skeptical telling them that while that is fine for them to believe he juggles to make people laugh and applaud. The title quote is their response to him, and it's a wonderful lesson for children to learn and adults to remember.
Other lessons are that no gift is too insignificant if it's given unselfishly and wholeheartedly with love, in this the story it is very similar to that of the Christmas carol "The Little Drummer Boy". Another is to rejoice in and utilize the talents God has given you whatever they may be, as Giovanni does with his juggling.
All in all, this is a treasure for all ages. I can't praise it highly enough. When my son was in kindergarten, this was one of the books I chose when I went in to read to his class. I can still see the rapt little faces turned up towards me from the circle around the floor as the story came to it's climax. Afterwards the teacher and I had a very good discussion with the class as to how they liked it and what they thought it meant.
Today is the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, since his friars play a prominent role in the story and Giovanni's final stop is in the Franciscan monastery at Sorrento, it seemed an appropriate day to post this review. I'm sure Francis was watching enthralled and applauding from heaven as old Giovanni spun the "sun in the heavens" soaring into the air on that long ago Christmas Eve!
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