| Title | : | The Clown of God |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0156181924 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780156181921 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 48 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1978 |
The Clown of God Reviews
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I found this book at my Uncle's house during our family reunion. He loves clowns and he was also a minister at a big church in North Carolina, so I know that they got this book when my cousin was young because he loves clowns. This also has a religious theme to it so this is like the perfect story for him. So, it was fun reading this to not only my niece and nephew, but other kids of my cousins. We set it up like a reading time at the library where I read a page and showed them the pictures.
The story is a tiny bit long, but it's good. An orphan can juggle and he finds a traveling show to join and learn from. He learns a new act and spends his life going about entertaining people all over the land. When he is an old man, everyone has seen him and they are no longer amazed by him. He ends up homeless once more and finds his way to a monastery with a Madonna and child where the child is grumpy and serious looking. He performs for the statue as his heart moves him too and then you need to read the ending for yourself. I don't like to spoil them.
The story is set at the beginning of the Renaissance. This is a famous old French legend that was part of the storyteller tradition. This is ink and watercolors.
The kids thought this was a fun story to read together. The story did keep their attention and the kids said that they thought it was a 3 or 4 star story with only my nephew saying it was only 2 stars just to be a prankster. -
The Juggler of Notre Dame used to be my daughters favorite Christmas movie so I was really excited to read this book and discover that it's the children's version of the French legend told by Anatole France. In The Clown of God an aging juggler thinks he has nothing left to offer God. The admiring crowds and delighted audiences have been replaced with homelessness and hunger. Although this was a story told and retold by storytellers of the Middle Ages, it's as relevant and alive today as it ever was.
Tomie dePaola has meticulously researched and recreated this poignant tale of giving -- whatever we have to give being what God values most -- and miracles. It's one of those books for the child in all of us. Beautiful!
Thank you Krista for the recommendation!
Review updated July 17, 2019 for administrative purposes. -
“The Clown of God” is an Italian folktale retold by Tomie dePaola, famous for his “Strega Nona” books. This book is about how a young boy named Giovanni becomes a famous juggler all around Italy while learning the true meaning of spreading happiness around the world. “The Clown of God” is a truly touching story that children will love for many years.
Tomie dePaola has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing this book about the true meaning of spreading happiness. Tomie dePaola’s writing is much more serious and dramatic in this book than in his “Strega Nona” series as he discusses the matter of religion and about the poverty that Giovanni has to go through in his life. Tomie dePaola has done an excellent job at creating sympathy for the main character Giovanni as he goes through poverty after his parents’ death and suddenly becomes a famous juggler after his special abilities are discovered and Giovanni’s touching story will help many children realize that everyone has a special ability that can bring happiness to other people if they care about the impact that their special abilities will have on the world. Tomie dePaola’s illustrations are much more beautiful than in his “Strega Nona” series, especially as he draws the characters’ expressions in a realistic way and the characters are drawn in a more fluid manner as the characters appearances are so smooth.
Parents should know that the ending of this book is a bit sad as it deals with the death of a person. I will not reveal who dies at the end of the book, but the idea of death presented in this book might frightened smaller children and parents should explain to their children about the issues of death before they read them this book.
“The Clown of God” is a truly heartwarming and touching story about the importance of spreading happiness around the world and many children will enjoy this book’s message about true happiness. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up due to the sad ending and the religious theme might confuse smaller children.
Review is also on:
Rabbit Ears Book Blog -
Loosely based on a French folk tale, we follow a poor street boy named Giovanni who has an incredible gift for juggling and grows up to be very famous until he becomes old and gives up juggling that no longer makes anyone smile, until one Christmas night. A beautifully drawn and bittersweet tale that certainly will put a smile on you at the end. A (100%/Outstanding)
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A beautiful, slightly bittersweet traditional story from Italy, lovingly retold by Tomie dePaola. Giovanni is a young boy with a penchant for juggling. He grows up and shares his wonderful gift with others all around the country. But, years pass and times get tough, and soon he is not so steady with juggling and audiences are not so kind. Reduced to beggar status, Giovanni enters a church one night--only to be awoken by glorious singing. It is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child! But the statue of the Christ child looks so sad, so serious. Giovanni would do anything to make the child happy. And, in that selfless act, Giovanni rediscovers his life's purpose for one last glorious moment.
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This children's book is poignant, solemn and inspiring. The beautiful, colourful pages will captivate your focus and imagination. The writing is minimal and easy to understand. The religious reference does not detract from the story or theme. The story is profound and may require light discussion after a reading. Such conversation can bring added insight into the theme of a life calling, craft and what it means to give a gift of yourself.
This book is very much an example of such a gift.
A good choice for children under 10 and adult's who enjoy children's books. -
Tomie dePaola is my favorite children's book author and artist, and Clown of God is one of his most amazing achievements. The author has several books with religious themes without being religion books. The story is heartwarming, and yet still brings me to tears all these years later, after so many reads.
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Cannot read aloud to kids without ugly crying.
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33 months - Picked this up at the thrift store for 50 cents. Certainly worth the price and O keeps requesting to read it. We have not delved into God and religion at all with her so her interest is either enjoyment of the story or she is trying to process the story's meaning. It is not unusual for her to request a book over and over until she understands a certain aspect of it... either something to do with the story or the usage of a new word which will often come up in conversation (used correctly) not long after.
For those not interested in the religious side of it, it is possible to adjust the wording slightly to maintain an interesting story without the references to "God". The story is enjoyable and sad, but, I don't know that I'd want to read it day in and day out unlike Stranga Nona which we can read repeatedly. -
I have long loved a movie I saw on TV many years ago - The Juggler of Notre Dame. Every once in a while I discover it again somewhere, and find to my delight that it's still as compelling, and emotionally charged as it was back when I first watched it in 1982.
It's not often a story can stay with you like that, for more than 30 years.
To discover that this tale is actually an old one, and then to further find the story told in a children's book by Tomie dePaola is priceless.
No matter what the telling, the story is one of heartbreak. And sacrifice. And giving to God. And the miracle at the end is a absolutely beautiful. This book tells the tale well, with the art and words combining to not make this story a thing of tragedy so much as a thing of holiness and hope. Read this one over the holidays and then couple it with the movie if you can find it. -
This is the only book I've had the time to read this month! And it took me five minutes to read as I sat in the library!
Anyway. There is a beautiful color palate used in the illustrations, very in keeping with my idea of the time-period it takes place, with a mixture of messier/moodier water colors blended into the pages. The writing is simple and the repetition in the prose helps propel the story. The protagonist goes from young to old very quickly but such is life. -
Born in Connecticut to an Irish-Italian family, Tomie dePaola's work are often autobiographical or based upon stories that he has inherited and made his own. The Clown of God is based upon a French legend which tells the story of a juggler whose gift, in his old age, is spurned by people but more than welcome by Christ himself. Once told by Anatole France and now crafted with dePaola's own words and images, it is a masterpiece in both word and picture.
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This is my favorite from Tomie DePaola. I bet he's now making Christ smile in heaven.
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A very enjoyable story, not to be discounted because it is older!
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Was not expecting that for the ending
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The Clown of God is beautifully-illustrated, well-written retelling of a French legend. The orphan Giovanni achieves great heights of fame through a juggling act that culminates in a rainbow of colored balls, with a golden ball representing "the sun in the heavens." At the height of his fame, some monks tell him his juggling "sings of the glory of God," to which he laughingly retorts, "I only juggle to make people laugh and applaud." As the years pass, Giovanni's popularity wanes until he is forced to stop juggling and beg for food. He returns home and falls asleep in the corner of the monks' church, awakening to see the Christmas Mass, as the townspeople bring gifts to lay before a statue of Mary and Jesus. When the church is empty he approaches the statue and performs a juggling act for Jesus. When he gets to "the Sun in the heavens," his heart stops and he dies. The monks, finding his body, discover that the child is holding Giovanni's golden ball and smiling.
As a Protestant I am certainly missing some of the meaning in this Catholic story, but the main point seems to be that our gifts and talents are to be used for God's glory. Even though the monks' statement that "if you give happiness to people, you give glory to God" goes a bit too far, Christians are called to care for others as an expression of our love for God (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 1:4:11-12). Although Giovanni defies this calling, seeking only personal acclaim, at the end of his life he devotes his talents to an act of worship toward God.
The main element that biblically-centered Christians may want to supply when they read this story is to make it explicit that God will accept our gifts only when we trust in Jesus' death, which opens the way for us to come to God (Hebrews 10:19-22). As the story of Cain and Abel illustrates (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4), only gifts motivated by this faith will be accepted. Apart from faith in Jesus' sacrifice and genuine repentance from our sins, no gift can be accepted (Psalm 51:16-17).
This qualification aside, The Clown of God is a beautiful story for your Christmas basket or any time of the year. -
This is an old story retold by the author.
A young orphan boy learns how to juggle, and using his skill he entertains people, thereby finding shelter and food for himself. He becomes a famous self-supported juggler until his old age. When he fumbles in his performance the people don't care about him anymore and he is again poor and alone. When he seeks shelter in a monastery something miraculous happens.
Wonderful illustrations. -
Summary: A clown who travels the world grows old and finds joy.
Why I Read This: I had read half of this with a toddler once, but she got distracted and started crawling on me even as she recited the lines about the golden ball. So, I never finished. Now I've finally finished!
Review: I really love this book. I really love that I made it to the end. The ending just made me smile. -
I grew up reading many amazing children's books, and the work of Tomie dePaola, including The Clown of God, holds a dear place in my heart. The artistry is both engaging and spectacular, with a unique flow and beautiful vibrant colors, that catch your eye without overpowering the story. I cannot wait to show these books to my future children!
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One of my favorite stories by dePaola, and one I never tire of reading. It touched me deeply as a child, and I still enjoy it to this day. The ending, in particular, is so amazing that it never leaves you.
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Not sure why this was moved from France to Italy.
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A wonderful retelling of a legend that has made our family happy for 40 years now! It might make you cry, but it is a definite inspirer.
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I read The Clown of God this afternoon, and tonight I'm still crying tears of mixed joy and sorrow.
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This book is fun to read and story was very interesting. The moral of the story is really good and the Pictures were amazing!
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A really well-told folk tale, with dePaola's beautiful illustrations accompanying it. A neat story about how even giving of your talents - just trying to make someone happy - can be a valuable gift.
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Wonderful presentation of this familiar tale!
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Beautiful story from my childhood. Always a marvellous read with kids!
