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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 07 2011 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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I'm so excited to have found a perfect picture book for St. George!
I've been bothered by the St. George picture books on our shelves, like St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges and Saint George and the Dragon by Geraldine McCaughrean. Their emphasis on the Golden Legend instead of the historical person just doesn't seem to fit celebrating the saint. Last time I picked up Margaret Hodges I couldn't get through the first page, with the Fairy Queen and Fairies.
When I saw a new book on St. George at the Daughters of St. Paul's website, I thought I'd give it try.
It's wonderful! This is the kind of picture book on this saint that is so needed. It's a small book, 6 1/2 x 8, but action packed.
St. George is a Roman soldier and already a Christian. He finds out the Emperor is going to persecute Christians. He sees a vision with himself following a dragon, giving orders -- and sees a woman and church's burning. He realizes that the dragon is the Emperor and pagan gods over Christianity, and he cannot give up his Faith, so he must "slay" the dragon. The story continues when he goes in front of the Emperor to profess his faith and beg the persecution end. He ends in jail and martyred/put to death (that is not detailed).
 up!!!
The drawings aren't super terrific (which is the main attraction of Hodges book. Love those illustrations.) They seem to be actual photos of people which are softened or digitized with additional artist work. But the dragon is well-done, and the images aren't a turn-off, just different.
The book is here:
The Saint Who Fought the Dragon: The Story of Saint George Written by Cornelia Mary Bilinsky, illustrated by Theresa Brandon, ISBN 0819871613. You can preview a bit to get a feel for it.
I'd say buy it soon. Pauline Books go out of print so fast, and although a copy is on Amazon through another dealer, their books usually aren't sold on Amazon.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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StephanieA
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There is also a new book "St. George and the Dragon" that I ordered, but I haven't seen/read it yet. It is by Jim Forest. However, it does retain the dragon story. llustrations are icons. I ordered this before reading this thread, or I would have ordered the Bilinsky book. But we'll see. You can order it on Amazon.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 08 2011 at 10:32am | IP Logged
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StephanieA wrote:
There is also a new book "St. George and the Dragon" that I ordered, but I haven't seen/read it yet. It is by Jim Forest. However, it does retain the dragon story. llustrations are icons. I ordered this before reading this thread, or I would have ordered the Bilinsky book. But we'll see. You can order it on Amazon.
Blessings,
Stephanie |
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Looks promising! I see the book St. George and the Dragon, which is printed by an Orthodox press, St. Vladimir's. I'd love to hear a review.
Years ago someone mentioned that there might be some symbolism in Orthodox icons that might be different than Catholic icons...but I've never been able to confirm that or get more details. I love icons and want to know more about them.
With all the depictions of St. George in fine art, seems like it could be a wonderful picture book just by putting some of those together. Which makes me think maybe we should have a thread of St. George in art? hmmmm.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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StephanieA
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| Posted: Dec 19 2011 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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I received the book and here's my 2 cents for what it is worth. We have all 3 books:
1. Hodges's book - great illustrations, but story is...umm...unreadable for me after years of reading it. Can't get past the fact that St. George serves a fairy queen in the end.
2. Daughters of St. Paul - the kids and I liked it, but not as well as Forest's book described below. The narrative is heads above Hodges's book.The negatives: While it appeals to the 8 and under crowd, the dream/vision narrative goes over my kids' heads. Is it happening? Is he dreaming? My only other negative is that it seemed rushed at the end when the Empress "suddenly" converts. (But then again, this part is made up for the flow of the story). But it is a realistic story of St. George.
3. St. George by Jim Forest. This is the one our family likes the best, but it is the story of the legend. It does retain the dragon story, but George doesn't marry the princess in the end, but converts the royal family to Christ. Then the end pages contain all the known info for older kids and adults about St. George. Hands down the winner for us because in history we don't know if St. George even was a soldier, so I like that the legend stays the legend, but incorporates Jesus into the whole narrative. The only part I didn't like for the younger crowd is that the dragon eats kids in the beginning! But I guess it is no worse that Little Red Riding Hood.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 19 2011 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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StephanieA wrote:
I received the book and here's my 2 cents for what it is worth. We have all 3 books:
1. Hodges's book - great illustrations, but story is...umm...unreadable for me after years of reading it. Can't get past the fact that St. George serves a fairy queen in the end.
2. Daughters of St. Paul - the kids and I liked it, but not as well as Forest's book described below. The narrative is heads above Hodges's book.The negatives: While it appeals to the 8 and under crowd, the dream/vision narrative goes over my kids' heads. Is it happening? Is he dreaming? My only other negative is that it seemed rushed at the end when the Empress "suddenly" converts. (But then again, this part is made up for the flow of the story). But it is a realistic story of St. George.
3. St. George by Jim Forest. This is the one our family likes the best, but it is the story of the legend. It does retain the dragon story, but George doesn't marry the princess in the end, but converts the royal family to Christ. Then the end pages contain all the known info for older kids and adults about St. George. Hands down the winner for us because in history we don't know if St. George even was a soldier, so I like that the legend stays the legend, but incorporates Jesus into the whole narrative. The only part I didn't like for the younger crowd is that the dragon eats kids in the beginning! But I guess it is no worse that Little Red Riding Hood.
Blessings,
Stephanie |
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Wow, thanks Stephanie! Nice to have options for St. George, isn't it? I'll have to get the Forest one, too.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Erin
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For Book Depositoriy fans it is now back in stock. 
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Erin
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 23 2012 at 4:05pm | IP Logged
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Bumping this...little late for today, St. George's Feast day.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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kristinannie
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I am so sad that I just saw this today, but now I have two books for next year's feast day!!!  I was actually really sad that I didn't have a book when I opened up my Divine Office this afternoon and realized whose Feast Day it was!
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Jenn
Which one did you end up preferring, Bilinsky or Forest?
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: New Picture Book for St. George
