Stories from the Life of Jesus: Retold from the Bible. Celia Barker Lottridge. Illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber. Toronto, ON: Groundwood, 2004. 140 pp., cloth, $29.95. ISBN 0-88899-497-4. Subject Headings: Jesus Christ-Juvenile literature. Bible stories, English-N.T. Grades 3-7 / Ages 8-12. Review by Christy S. Goerzen. ***½ /4

excerpt:

“Master,” said Phillip, “there are thousands of people here. Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to have even a mouthful.”

Andrew, the brother of Peter, said, “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fishes and is willing to share. But that is nothing among so many.”

“Tell the people to sit down on the grass,” said Jesus. “And ask the boy to give me the food he has brought.”

He took the loaves and fishes in his hands and gave thanks. Then he began to break them into pieces for the disciples to distribute among the people. As long as there were men and women and children to be fed, the bread and fishes did not run out. There was plenty for everyone. When they had all eaten as much as they wanted, Jesus told the disciples to gather up the scraps that were left so that nothing would be lost. The fragments filled twelve baskets.

When the people saw what Jesus had done they said to each other, “This man is indeed a prophet.” (From “Loaves and Fishes.”)

In the aptly named Stories from the Life of Jesus, professional storyteller Celia Barker Lottridge has undertaken the daunting task of retelling stories from this great prophet’s life as they may have been heard in Jesus’ own time. A founding member of the Storytellers School of Toronto, Lottridge is also the award-winning author of several novels, including Ticket to Curlew, as well as picture books, most recently Music for the Tsar of the Sea.

     With a masterful economy of language and a straightforward, accessible style, Lottridge’s retellings move through Jesus’ life, from his birth to his death. Lottridge bathes even the most well-known stories, such as the Christmas story, in a fresh light with her attention to detail and spare yet evocative descriptions: “When Mary and Joseph looked upon his face for the first time, they thought he was the most beautiful baby they had seen, waving his arms and legs and blinking his eyes in the lantern light. Mary held him for a long time.”

     Austrian illustrator Linda Wolfsgruber’s illustrations complement the text perfectly. Combining collage and paper art with pen and ink drawings, the full-colour images also bring in iconographic elements and textile designs from biblical to medieval times and beyond. The deceptively simple-looking characters’ faces, for example, have the familiar look of a medieval tapestry, with their wide, almond-shaped eyes and L-shaped noses. Their robes and other items of clothing are in rich textile designs from the last two millennia. Torn-paper backgrounds bring additional depth as well as a more modern touch to the illustrations.

     A gorgeously designed book which brings the best in storytelling and image together, Stories from the Life of Jesus is a must-have for anyone interested in storytelling, Western art, literature, and the like. Lottridge’s refreshing approach to these fascinating stories provides an ideal way to enjoy them in a secular context.

Highly Recommended.

Christy Goerzen is a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature candidate at the University of British Columbia and Communications Coordinator for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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