Brother Sun, Sister Moon

By Katherine Paterson and Pamela Dalton

In Brother Sun, Sister Moon, award-winning author Katherine Paterson re-imagines a hymn of praise originally written by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224. Illuminated with the exquisite illustrations of cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton, this picture book offers a stunningly beautiful tribute to nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chronicle Books Digital
• Release date: Apr 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452105796

Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson is one of the world’s most celebrated and beloved authors. Among her many awards are two Newberys and two National Book Awards, and she was recently named a ""Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. She has been published in more than 22 languages in a variety of formats, from picture books to historical novels.

Reviews for Brother Sun, Sister Moon

[alyson_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stunning illustrations!

[salsabrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Paterson adapts St. Francis' hymm to nature for young readers. The illustrations are lush, warm and very child-friendly, with plenty of little scenes for kids to pore over. This would be ideal for themes of Earth Day, Thanksgiving and environmentalism.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'd never heard of the Canticle of Creatures. The words are pretty, but the illustrations are especially nice!

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an incredible book, written by two-time Newbery Medal winner for The Bridge over Terabithia and Jacob I Have Loved. Based on St. Francis of Assissi's Canticle of the Creatures, this is a book of purpose, of nature, and of the intertwining of the beauty when nature inspires us and calls us to travel to a different level of consciousness.The beautiful illustrations are created by the Germanic art of paper cutting into patterns. The Scherenschnitte images are a feast for the eyes.

[mwade4-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Summary: The characters in the book display their thankfulness to God for the sun, stars, moon, wind, and "every kind of weather." Throughout the book the characters display their thankfulness all other aspects that are related to the weather and the outdoor conditions.Evaluation/Argument: This book was very different than ones I am use to reading. You do not see writing like this in today's society. There is less praise and thanksgiving to God. The characters in the story are illustrated in a way that other generations dressed and are shown behaving like they did years ago. For example, the women are shown wearing bonnets on their heads and holding buckets of water back to their homes. This dress and behavior is not typical of society today. I did not really like this book, but that may be because of its old-fashioned nature.The central message of the story is to be thankful for the weather conditions that you have been given. We should be thankful everyday that God has blessed you with the conditions he did and that you are able to continue to provide a living.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Celebrated children's author Katharine Paterson, who was twice awarded the Newbery Medal for her fiction for young readers, "reimagines" St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures (also known as The Canticle of the Sun) in this lovely picture-book. With praise for all of creation - the titular Brother Sun and Sister Moon of course, but also Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Sister Earth, and even Sister Death - and most of all for the creator, the poetic narrative creates a sense of wonder and awe, while the accompanying artwork by Pamela Dalton provides a visual feast for the reader.Brother Sun, Sister Moon is an outstanding picture-book! I was moved by the text, which, to judge by the more direct translation of St. Francis' song that is included at the rear, keeps very much to the spirit of the original. I appreciated the balance offered, between the feminine and the masculine in creation, and was interested to see Death described in the feminine, and as a sister - after all, it too is part of creation. The artwork is simply gorgeous, and I found myself marveling at the intricate paper-cuttings (all made from a single piece of paper) that were then so beautifully colored. Apparently this style of illustration, known as "Scherenschnitte" (literally, "scissor cuts"), dates to sixteenth-century Germany and Switzerland. I will have to track down more of Pamela Dalton's work! Recommended to readers looking for children's stories that address the spiritual component of the natural world.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful and reverent "reimagining" of St. Francis of Assisi's "Cantincle of the Creaures."

[scote23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The illustrations in this book are amazing.

[debnance_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Katherine Paterson offers a revised version of the old prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Sun, Sister Moon with beautiful cut-paper illustrations by Pamela Dalton. “We come to sing a song of praise to you,O God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth,who by your power and out of your love havecreated all things and called them good.”