Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures

By Katherine Paterson and Pamela Dalton

An award winning children’s author adapts the Canticle of the Creatures “in crystalline language. Grace and joy for all ages and almost any faith” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
 
In Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Newbery Medal and National Book 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.
 
“The combination of her polished poetic text and Ms. Dalton’s glorious illustrations reach a sublime height.” —New York Journal of Books
 
“Gorgeous.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
 
“An inspiring modern classic.” —Booklist (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452105796

Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson’s international fame rests not only on her widely acclaimed novels but also on her efforts to promote literacy in the United States and abroad. A two-time winner of the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved) and the National Book Award (The Great Gilly Hopkins and The Master Puppeteer), she has received many accolades for her body of work, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, given by her home state of Vermont. She was also named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. She served as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature in 2010-2011.Ms. Paterson is vice president of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (www.thencbla.org), which is a not-for-profit education and advocacy organization. The NCBLA’s innovative projects actively promote literacy, literature, libraries, and the arts.  She is both an Alida Cutts Lifetime Member of the United States Board on Books for Young People (www.usbby.org) and a lifetime member of the International Board on Books for Young People (www.ibby.org).She and her husband, John, live in Montpelier, Vermont. They have four children and seven grandchildren. For more information, visit www.terabithia.com.

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Reviews for Brother Sun, Sister Moon

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[alyson_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stunning illustrations!

[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.”