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Petook
Petook, the cockerel and pround father of newly-hatched chicks, has a close encounter with the boy Jesus. Many years later, Petook sees Jesus again high on a hill outside Jerusalem.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1988
2 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Caryll Houselander
59 books103 followersCaryll Houselander (1901-1954) was a British Roman Catholic laywoman; a mystic, writer, artist, visionary and healer. Born in London in 1901, Caryll was the second of two daughters born to Willmott and Gertrude (nee Provis) Houselander. Her first book, This War is the Passion. written during World War II, launched her prolific writing career. Houselander's talents included painting and many woodcarvings.
Caryll's "divinely eccentric" life was principally a devotion to contemplating Christ in all and men and women and in all life circumstances. Maisie Ward (a friend of Caryll and author of her principal biography, Caryll Houselander: That Divine Eccentric (Sheed & Ward, 1962), states, "Her message can be summed in a single sentence; we must learn to see Christ in everyone." Msgr. Ronald Knox was quoted as saying about Caryll's writing style, " . . . she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she finished it."
Though she remained a single woman throughout her life, Caryll was engaged for a time to Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's character, "James Bond."
Caryll Houselander has been described as being a mystic in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila. She is best known for her works such as The Reed of God.
Caryll died of cancer on October 12th, 1954. Her bibliography consists of more than seven hundred written works including poems, short stories and articles, articles for juvenile publications and children's books (for some of these she did artwork for as well), articles for various Catholic publications, and, of course, her own books.
Caryll's "divinely eccentric" life was principally a devotion to contemplating Christ in all and men and women and in all life circumstances. Maisie Ward (a friend of Caryll and author of her principal biography, Caryll Houselander: That Divine Eccentric (Sheed & Ward, 1962), states, "Her message can be summed in a single sentence; we must learn to see Christ in everyone." Msgr. Ronald Knox was quoted as saying about Caryll's writing style, " . . . she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she finished it."
Though she remained a single woman throughout her life, Caryll was engaged for a time to Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's character, "James Bond."
Caryll Houselander has been described as being a mystic in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila. She is best known for her works such as The Reed of God.
Caryll died of cancer on October 12th, 1954. Her bibliography consists of more than seven hundred written works including poems, short stories and articles, articles for juvenile publications and children's books (for some of these she did artwork for as well), articles for various Catholic publications, and, of course, her own books.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 18, 2024
About a rooster. He meets Jesus when he's young and he just fathered a bunch of chicks. Jesus watches the hen gather her chicks. Then years later, "He had just passed through an uneasy night. Everything had been steeped in moonlight, but all had looked strange and sad. He could see the distant hill of Calvary where the three tall trunks always stood..." And there it picks up a little of the Easter story but indirectly. The pictures show things in the distance, like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on that page, and then someone pointing (likely at Peter saying he was with Jesus, because then the cock, Petook crowed). The following page shows three figures on crosses in the distance. Then Easter morning he's sure that his new chicks will hatch. There's a page where the chick hatches out of the egg and in the background is a tomb that's white (empty). Cute story but also symbolic and the pictures in the background are a great Easter message.
April 11, 2019
The simple yet elegant illustrations of Petook, a busy, nosy yet wise old rooster enhance the story. The afterword by the illustrator Tomie DePaola really captures the essence of Petook: An Easter Story:
"Petook's joy at the emergence of new life from the egg certainly echoes the joy of Christ's emergence from the tomb. It also breathes new life into the age old symbol of the Easter egg, helping the reader become aware that it is more than just the tasty chocolate treat we associate with Easter today. Without symbols such as this, Christianity becomes pale."
May 6, 2019
Overwritten to a fault. Even has a pronoun error. The illustrations are somewhat interesting in places but very much lacking in emotion. It's almost completely narrative. Nearly no dialogue at all. Jumps in time way too much in an obvious sort of way. kind of like watching one of those documentaries about rock bands that only have scenes with noteworthy events in them with very cliche dialogue. A lot of the narrative goes ultra-poetic and that's really a fault. The poetic words lack any emotion whatsoever because they are trying way too hard.
April 18, 2018
I love just about everything by Tomie de Paola. His illustrations to this lovely children's Easter book are perfect. A beautiful tale weaving fiction with the most important story of all time. A great conversation book for children (and adults!) with lots of hidden detail to be found in text and illustrations such as a young Jesus encountering a mother hen, and going on to use the analogy of God as a mother hen in his ministry.
April 27, 2025
Petook was a proud rooster in a farmyard where his wife, Martha the hen, was sitting on her eggs that would soon hatch. One day, a boy (Jesus, although not mentioned by name) was watching Martha gathering her chicks under her wings. Years later Petook could see three crosses on a hill but he didn’t know that one of the men on one of those crosses remembered the hen gathering her chicks.
This is a nicely written story with wonderful illustrations.
This is a nicely written story with wonderful illustrations.
April 22, 2020
A fun Easter story that my kids loved.
March 10, 2021
Wordy, but I appreciate the intent.
April 1, 2021
Read aloud to the kids. Sweet, and unique Easter story. Instant family favorite!
April 8, 2023
An adorable little fictional Easter Story.
December 13, 2023
This is a great story about a rooster and Easter.
April 1, 2024
This is a quiet book. Mindful.
April 19, 2024
The story of a rooster named Petook who was present at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The story is okay but Tomie dePaola's illustrations are beautiful. A good picture book for Easter.
March 22, 2016
03/12: It's an Easter tradition now to read this one. It's our favorite Easter read. DePaola is so adept at subtly telling a story, with both words and illustrations. I wish they would reprint this one. It's wicked expensive. But at least it's available at public libraries.
Inside Cover: Petook is happy because he has just become the proud father of twelve chickens. But when he hears that a stranger has been seen in the vineyard near his wife Martha and her brood, Petook flies to their side. "When he got to Martha he knew that he need not have been afraid. It is true thta there was a boy there, but this boy was kneeling by the little brown hen with a look of wonder on his face..." Years go by... and Petook has grown old. Again, Martha is sitting on a next of new eggs. While Petook waits for the chickens to be born, he sees three tall crosses on a distant hill. And a body being lifted -- the body of the boy who years before visited Martha and her chicks, and later was heart to say: "Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not" Renowned religious writer Caryll Houselander has subtly conveyed the Easter message of "new life" in a beautiful story.
Inside Cover: Petook is happy because he has just become the proud father of twelve chickens. But when he hears that a stranger has been seen in the vineyard near his wife Martha and her brood, Petook flies to their side. "When he got to Martha he knew that he need not have been afraid. It is true thta there was a boy there, but this boy was kneeling by the little brown hen with a look of wonder on his face..." Years go by... and Petook has grown old. Again, Martha is sitting on a next of new eggs. While Petook waits for the chickens to be born, he sees three tall crosses on a distant hill. And a body being lifted -- the body of the boy who years before visited Martha and her chicks, and later was heart to say: "Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not" Renowned religious writer Caryll Houselander has subtly conveyed the Easter message of "new life" in a beautiful story.
July 30, 2014
What a lovely Easter story. It must be read metaphorically, of course, since chickens don't live for 20+ years, but it was sweet all the same.
Petook is a rooster who is very proud of his beautiful chicks. A gentle boy loves them, too, and later teaches his disciples, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not."
Tomie dePaola illustrated this story by Caryll Houselander, and writes about her at the very back of the book. The illustrations are classic TdP.
The story made me think of my dear Waldorf students. The time they spend out of doors, digging in the dirt, planting seeds and feeding animals, is crucial for their formation as human beings and leads to greater understanding of the world. I think they would react very well to this story.
Petook is a rooster who is very proud of his beautiful chicks. A gentle boy loves them, too, and later teaches his disciples, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings as the hen gathers her chicks, and you would not."
Tomie dePaola illustrated this story by Caryll Houselander, and writes about her at the very back of the book. The illustrations are classic TdP.
The story made me think of my dear Waldorf students. The time they spend out of doors, digging in the dirt, planting seeds and feeding animals, is crucial for their formation as human beings and leads to greater understanding of the world. I think they would react very well to this story.
August 20, 2009
The message that this book was trying to convey was a good one, but unfortunately, I didn't feel like it did the best job. I'm not sure children would get the significance of the story and I felt that parts of the story were a little unbelievable. I did enjoy Tomie's illustrations though. I'm not sure that I would recommend this book.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
March 23, 2012
A whimsical Easter fable that reminded me of "The Tale of the Three Trees," another one of my favorites. I'm becoming obsessed with Caryll Houselander, and the fact that Tomie de Paola did the illustrations makes this picture book all the more enjoyable.
April 28, 2009
This story was okay, an interesting take on why eggs and chicks are associated with Easter. It was a bit wordy for a picture book, and some of the sentences were awkward, but my daughter enjoyed it.
April 6, 2013
This is on my "Favorite Easter books" list. A beautiful story with Tomie DePaola illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews